Advise on next steps

Hi M_nwadibia ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

1. Clarify the Role of the New VM

From your description, the VM will host a Windows-based database that needs to be queried by the existing Report Server.

The key questions to clarify are:

Will the VM host a SQL Server instance or another type of database?
Will the VM be on-premises or hosted in the cloud (e.g., Azure)?
Will the data be pulled live or via scheduled ETL processes?

Note: These answers will influence how you configure connectivity and security.

2. Connectivity Between Report Server and VM

To integrate the VM with your existing Report Server:

Ensure Network Accessibility: The Report Server must be able to reach the VM over the network. If the VM is in Azure or another cloud, configure VPN or ExpressRoute.
Install Necessary Drivers: If the VM hosts a SQL Server or another database, install the appropriate ODBC/OLEDB drivers on the Report Server.
Configure Data Source in Report Builder: Define a new data source in Report Builder that points to the database on the VM. Use Windows Authentication or SQL Authentication as appropriate.

You can refer to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/reporting-services/report-server/install-reporting-services?view=sql-server-ver15 for guidance on configuring remote data sources 1.

3. Security and Authentication

Firewall Rules: Open the necessary ports on the VM to allow inbound connections from the Report Server.
Service Accounts: Use a service account with minimal privileges to connect from the Report Server to the VM-hosted database.
Encryption: Use SSL/TLS for secure data transmission between the Report Server and the VM.

4. Performance and Impact

Data Volume: If large volumes of data are expected, consider caching or using intermediate data marts.
Latency: Monitor query performance, especially if the VM is cloud-hosted.
Resource Allocation: Ensure the VM has sufficient CPU, memory, and disk I/O to handle reporting workloads.

5. Deployment and Maintenance

Automation: Use PowerShell or Azure CLI to automate VM provisioning and configuration if you're using Azure.
Monitoring: Set up monitoring for both the VM and the Report Server to track performance and availability.
Backup and Recovery: Implement backup strategies for the VM-hosted database.

Please refer Microsoft article.

How to Deploy the App-V Server Using a Script (Windows 10/11) - Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack | Microsoft Learn

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