MICROSOFT DYNAMICS 365 INSTANCES TYPES AND PROPERTIES

Dynamics 365 Instances

An instance is a Dynamics 365 database

Large organisations might use separate instances for different departments or for testing

Data for each instance is stored in its own SQL Server database.


Hierarchy

                                                          Tenant
                                                              |
   ----|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
        Office 365 subscription            Dynamics 365 Subscription
                                                           |
                                                           |
                                           |                          |
                   Production Instance             Training Instance


Instance Types

_ An instance can be for

 - Production purposes
 - Non-production purposes, referred to as a Sandbox instance.

Sandbox Instances
_ Non- Production purposes include:
  - Training
  - Development
  - Testing of third -party add-ons
 -  Upgrade testing

Purchasing Instances
_ Production and Sandbox instances are purchased as add- ons for a subscription
- Add-ons cannot be purchased for trials

Instances Properties

NAME : The name of the instance which is shown in the application

URL : The URL name is used to form the sign in URL, the name must be unique across all instances

PURPOSE: For references, the purpose is only shown in the Office 365 admin portal

INSTANCE TYPE : Whether this is a production or sandbox instance

SECURITY GROUP : Determine which users have access to the instance. if a group is not specified then all users  who have a Dynamics 365 license are added to the instance.

Edit properties of an instance

- In the Office 365 admin center navigate to Admin > Dynamics 365

- This opens the Dynamics 365 Administration Center where a list of instances is shown

- Select the instance to change and then click Edit.

Administer Instances

- Actions that can be performed on instances:

 - Switch

 - Reset

 - Delete

- Copy

Switch an instance

- The ability to change instance type depends on available licenses

- An instance can be switched from:

 - Production to sandbox, or sandbox to production

 - Make changes in the Office 365 portal, under Admin > Dynamics 365

- In the Dynamics 365 Administration Center,select the instance and then click Edit  and change the type

Reset a Sandbox Instance

- Sandbox instance can be reset

- This deletes the instance and creates a new one(effectively deleting all data)

- In the Dynamics 365 Administration Center, select the instance and the click Reset

- Production instance can not be reset.