InstallationPrepare AX Server Environment

Prepare AX Server Environment

Install AIF Web Services

Application Integration Framework (AIF) web services are used to exchange documents between Microsoft Dynamics AX and other systems. External systems can request or create data by calling the web services that are exposed by Microsoft Dynamics AX. To perform document exchanges with web services the AIF web services must be installed on the application integration gateway computer using the Microsoft Dynamics AX installer.

Documents that are exchanged using AIF are stored in the AIF document history. This leads to the log file and database growth, which can cause problems. Therefore, the AIF document history must be cleared from time to time.

It is recommended to install the Application Integration Server and the Application Object Server (AOS) on different computers.

To install AIF web services the following steps should be performed:

Step 1: Run Microsoft Dynamics AX installer and follow the wizard.

Step 2: On the 'Select installation type' page click 'Custom installation' and then click 'Next'.

Step 3: On the 'Select components' page select 'AIF Web services' and click 'Next'.


AIF Web Services Installation

Step 4: On the 'Install files' page, accept the default file location or specify another directory and click 'Next'.

Step 5: On the '.NET Business Connector: Select a display language' page, select the initial language.

Step 6: On the 'Business Connector: Connect to AOS instance' page, in the 'AOS name' field, type the computer name of the AOS to which the application integration computer should connect.  If that computer runs more than one AOS, enter the instance name or port number of the AOS.

Step 7: On the 'Identify the .NET Business Connector proxy account' page, type the domain, user account and password of the Business Connector proxy account.

Step 8: On the 'AIF Web services: Configure IIS' page, select the following:

  • In the 'Web site' field, select the web site in which the AIF IIS application will be created;

    If you select the Default Web Site in IIS and later install Windows SharePoint Services or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, the SharePoint installation program will stop the Default Web Site and create a new site that runs on port 80.
    This means you will have to configure the Default Web Site to run on a different port and restart this site.

  • In the 'Application pool' field, accept the default application pool name or type a new one. This is the application pool that IIS will use for the AIF application;
  • In the 'Virtual directory' field, accept the default IIS virtual directory or type a new name for the virtual directory. This virtual directory points to the content directory that contains the AIF service files;
  • The 'Content directory' field shows the directory where the generated service artifacts are stored including the 'web.config' file. Setup creates the 'AIFWebServices' folder in the Microsoft Dynamics AX installation path and sets the content directory to this path. Click 'Next'.

Step 9: On the 'AIF Web services: Specify an AOS account' page, enter or select the account the AOS instance is running as. If you have multiple AOS instances, specify the account for each instance.

If an AOS instance is running under the Network Service account, format the account name in the following way: Domain\ComputerName$. Click 'Next'.

Step 10: On the 'Ready to install' page, click 'Install'.

IIS will be restarted after the web services are installed.


In IIS 'Anonymous Authentication' should be enabled for the application pool that hosts AIF web service:

Step 1: Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

Step 2: Locate the application pool that hosts AIF web service on the left.

Step 3: Go to 'IIS -> Authentication'.

Step 4: Right-click 'Anonymous Authentication' and select 'Enable'.

If all steps have been followed and performed then AIF web services are installed.