Scale Out SSRS Deployment

In this article, we will explain how to Scale Out SSRS Deployment (Always-on) in SQL Server 2016 and SQL Server 2012.

You might also like to read how to Install SSRS 2016 step by step


SQL Server 2016: Scale Out SSRS Deployment

I have 2-Tire environment with the below topology:

  • 2 Web and APP servers.
  • 2 Database Servers (Always-on).
Scale Out SSRS Deployment

One of the web servers has already SSRS installed but when the load balancer hit the second web node, I got the 404 error when browsing Report Manager URL:

404 file or directory not found.

404 - file or directory not found - Scale-out SSRS

This error occurs because the SSRS is not installed and configured on the second node, so the directory of reporting service will not be found.

So to fix this issue you should Scale out SSRS deployment to share the same single Report Server Database.

Note: If you need to use Reporting Services with SharePoint. it’s recommended to configure SSRS SharePoint integrated mode with  Reporting service application service on an independent reporting server to ensure Performance, Manageability, and Security.


How to Scale Out SSRS to apply High Availability?

Before we getting started to scale out SSRS, In this article, we have considered you already have installed and configured the SSRS in the first node as mentioned at Install and Configure SQL Server Reporting Service (SSRS).

Scale Out SSRS Prerequisites

Beside installing and configuring SSRS on the first node, you also should verify that the report server is operational at the first node by doing the following:

  • The Reporting Service is running in SQL Configuration Manager.
  • The Report manager URL has been configured and can be browsed.
Steps to Scale Out SSRS
  • Now In the Second node, you should fo the following:
    • Mount the same SQL Server Media ISO/CD that used before to install SSRS in the first node.
    •  Run SQL Server Installation file.
    • From SQL Server Installation Center > Click on Installation.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Click on New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Click OK after the Setup Support Rules have been passed.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Check Product Updates and click Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Again, Check Setup Support Rules and click Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • From Installation Types > Check Perform a new installation.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • From Setup Role > Select SQL Server Feature Installation.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • From Feature Selection > Below Instance Features > Select Reporting Service -Native > Click Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Configure instance by setting the instance name or leave default.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Check Disk Space Requirement > Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • In Server Configuration > Set SSRS Service Account > Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • In Reporting Service Configuration > Check Install only.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • In Error Reporting > Click Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Once the Installation Configuration Rules have been passed > Click Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • In Ready to install > Click on Install.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Complete the installation wizard and click Finish.
  • Open Reporting Service Configuration Manager.
reporting-services-configuration-manager
  • With the same Server name, Click Find and select the existing instance that has been selected to add SSRS feature > Click on Connect.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • The Report Server Status should be shown with the current report server status and basic information about report server.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Go to Service Account section to check the service account that has been set during the installation, you can also change the current service account through this section based on your requirement.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Before configuring Web Service URL > Go to Database section > Click on Change Database.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Follow the Change Database wizard > Check Choose an existing report server database > Next.
choose-an-existing-report-server-database-ssrs
  • Type the server name of the SQL Server Database Engine instance that hosts the report server database,
    • Select Authentication Type “SQL Server Account”.
    • Set the Username and Password for the account that should have permission to connect to SQL Server Database Engine instance that hosts the report server database.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Click on Test Connection > Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • In Report Server Database, type the same database that has created for the first report server, and then click Next.

Note: The default reporting database name is ReportServer, and you should type the sam name of the reporting database on the first server, also do not select ReportServerTempDB, it is used only for storing temporary data when processing reports.

Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Again set the credential for the user that should have permission to access the Report Server Database.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Review the Summary > Next.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Wait until the Report Server Database Configuration wizard complete > Click on Finish.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Now Database section should show the current Report Server Database.
SSRS Configuration_15
  • Configure the Report Server Web service URL.

Do not test the URL yet. It will not resolve until the report server is joined to the scale-out deployment.

Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Configure the Report Manager URL.

Do not test the URL yet or try to verify the deployment. The report server will be unavailable until the report server is joined to the scale-out deployment.

Scale Out SSRS Deployment
  • Join the second report server instance to the scale-out deployment
    • Open the Reporting Services Configuration tool,
    • and reconnect to the first report server name.

Note: The first report server is already initialized for reversible encryption operations so it can be used to join additional report server instances to the scale-out deployment.

connect-to-ssrs-server
  • Click Scale-out Deployment to open the Scale-out Deployment page.
  • You should see two entries, one for each report server instance that is connected to the report server database.
    • The first report server instance status should be joined.
    • The second report server instance status should be “Waiting to join“.

Note: If you do not see similar entries for your deployment, verify you are connected to the first report server that is already configured and initialized to use the report server database.

  • On the Scale-out Deployment page, select the report server instance that is waiting to join the deployment, and clicks Add Server.
scale-out SSRS deployment
Scale Out SSRS: Access Denied

You may experience error messages similar to ‘Access Denied’ when you attempt to join a Reporting Services report server instance to the scale-out deployment, and to solve it you should do the following:

  • Back up the Reporting Services encryption key from the first Reporting Services instance.
back-up-encription-key-ssrs
  • Restore the key to the second Reporting Services report server.
restore-encryption-key-ssrs
  • Then reconnect again to the first report server and try to join the second server to the Reporting Services scale-out deployment.
scale-out SSRS deployment - join server
  • You should now be able to verify that both report server instances are operational.
  • To verify the second instance, you can use the Reporting Services Configuration tool to connect to the report server and click the Web Service URL or the Report Manager URL.
Scale Out SSRS Deployment

Applies To
  • SQL Server Reporting Service 2016 Native Mode.
  • SQL Server Reporting Service 2014 Native Mode.
  • SQL Server Reporting Service 2012 Native Mode.
See Also

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top