VB.NET NAV Application Server

Most of my clients require a running NAV Application Server.  The NAS that is included in NAV 2009 R2 requires a license that is included in most licenses today.  However, there are cases where more than one NAS is needed.  That requires additional NAS licenses.  Where the customer is running NAV 2009 R2 middle tier service this changes.  By running a VB.NET NAV Application Server it is possible to setup multiple services on a single CAL license.  The CAL license is not as expensive as the NAS license.  Here is the solution that I offer.

First, I create a codeunit in NAV

[code htmlscript=”false”]ExecuteCodeunit(CodeunitID : Integer;Log : Boolean) Success : Boolean

IF Log THEN LogEntryNo := InsertLogEntry(5,CodeunitID);
Success := CODEUNIT.RUN(CodeunitID);
IF Log THEN
UpdateLogEntry(LogEntryNo,Success)
ELSE IF NOT Success THEN BEGIN
LogEntryNo := InsertLogEntry(5,CodeunitID);
UpdateLogEntry(LogEntryNo,Success)
END;

InsertLogEntry(ObjectType : ‘,,,Report,,Codeunit’;ObjectNo : Integer) : Integer
WITH JobQueueLogEntry DO BEGIN
INIT;
ID := CREATEGUID;
“User ID” := USERID;
“Start Date/Time” := CURRENTDATETIME;
“Object Type to Run” := ObjectType;
“Object ID to Run” := ObjectNo;
INSERT(TRUE);
COMMIT;
EXIT(“Entry No.”);
END;

UpdateLogEntry(LogEntryNo : Integer;WasSuccess : Boolean)
WITH JobQueueLogEntry DO BEGIN
GET(LogEntryNo);
“End Date/Time” := CURRENTDATETIME;
IF WasSuccess THEN
Status := Status::Success
ELSE BEGIN
Status := Status::Error;
SetErrorMessage(COPYSTR(GETLASTERRORTEXT,1,1000));
END;
MODIFY;
COMMIT;
END;[/code]

This codeunit uses the Job Queue Log to log the execution.  Next step is to publish this codeunit as a web service in table no. 2000000076.  Default web service name is NAVAppServer.

Next step is to edit the VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe.config file and customize the values.

 <applicationSettings>
        <NAV_Application_Server.My.MySettings>
            <setting name="NAVAppServer" serializeAs="String">
                <value>http://<Middle Tiere Host Name>:7047/DynamicsNAV/WS/<CompanyName>/Codeunit/NAVAppServer</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="CodeunitID" serializeAs="String">
                <value>81004</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="LogMode" serializeAs="String">
                <value>False</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="TimerInterval" serializeAs="String">
                <value>90000</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="LogFrequency" serializeAs="String">
                <value>15:00:00</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="SMTPHost" serializeAs="String">
                <value>mail.dynamics.is</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="FromAddress" serializeAs="String">
                <value>gunnar@dynamics.is</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="ToAddress" serializeAs="String">
                <value>gunnar@dynamics.is</value>
            </setting>
            <setting name="RetryTimerInterval" serializeAs="String">
                <value>45000</value>
            </setting>
        </NAV_Application_Server.My.MySettings>
    </applicationSettings>

To install as a service start command prompt in elevated mode and execute installutil.exe command.  The install will prompt for the user to start the service.

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727>InstallUtil.exe "C:\Program Files(x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe"

Microsoft (R) .NET Framework Installation utility Version 2.0.50727.5420
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Running a transacted installation.

Beginning the Install phase of the installation.
See the contents of the log file for the C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe assembly's progress.

The file is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.InstallLog.
Installing assembly 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe'.
Affected parameters are:
   logtoconsole =
   assemblypath = C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe
   logfile = C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.InstallLog
Installing service VB.NET-NAVAppServer$DEFAULT...
Service VB.NET-NAVAppServer$DEFAULT has been successfully installed.
Creating EventLog source VB.NET-NAVAppServer$DEFAULT in log Application...

The Install phase completed successfully, and the Commit phase is beginning.
See the contents of the log file for the C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe assembly's progress.

The file is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.InstallLog.
Committing assembly 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe'.
Affected parameters are:
   logtoconsole =
   assemblypath = C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.exe
   logfile = C:\Program Files (x86)\Dynamics.is\VB.NET NAV Application Server\VB.NET NAV Application Server.InstallLog

The Commit phase completed successfully.

The transacted install has completed.

The last step is to change the service startup and start the service.

The service will create entries in the Application Log.

NAV Web Service Codeunit

The following ZIP files are encrypted.

VB.NET NAV Application Server DEFAULT Executables

NAV App Server Visual Studio 2008 Project