28-08-19 02:26 PM
Blue Prism uses a Microsoft SQL Server database as a repository for most data, such as processes, logs, audit, and user information. To keep the installation and setup simple, we deploy Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express LocalDB for you as part of the Blue Prism Trial and Learning Edition.
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 is supported on Windows 8.1 and above and is only available as a 64-bit installation. Therefore, the minimum requirement for Blue Prism Trial and Learning Edition is a 64-bit installation of Windows 8.1 or above.
Support Center: What versions of Windows are compatible with the Blue Prism Trial and Learning Edition?
19-09-19 08:56 AM
19-09-19 10:00 AM
Hello Eric,
Thank you for your questions. For Trial and Learning Edition, we have attempted to keep the installation and configuration simple so that you can get straight onto learning and using Blue Prism on a standalone non-production computer.
For a detailed overview of installing Blue Prism in an Enterprise environment, you may find 6.6 User Guide Installing Enterprise Edition useful.
Tip: On the sign in to Blue Prism screen, you have the option to Configure connection. This lets you connect to alternative SQL Servers. You will require a license for each database you wish to use.
Re: Are we forced to install an instance of SQL LocalDB for BluePrism to function?
Blue Prism requires a Microsoft SQL Server to function.
Only the Trial and Learning Edition installs SQL LocalDB, the full enterprise application installer does not install SQL LocalDB. Instead, you have the option to connect to a Microsoft SQL Server of your choosing, including SQL Azure.
We chose LocalDB as it is very light, and the purpose of Trial and Learning Edition is to learn the application without having to manually configure an infrastructure first. I.e. It's setup on a standalone computer for you.
Note: Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB and Express versions are not suitable for production environments.
Re: Is this also the case in the enterprise licensed versions of BP?
No, for Blue Prism to be used in enterprise, you will need full SQL Server. I.e. Standard or Enterprise version of Microsoft SQL Server or SQL Azure.
Re: Is there no option for bypassing this and setting up Blue Prism with an enterprise version/edition of SQL Server?
Yes, with the enterprise installation lets you chose which SQL Server to connect to.
Note: An SQL Server instance must be pre-configured prior to the installation of Blue Prism
I hope this answered all your questions?
19-09-19 10:36 AM
23-09-19 09:29 AM
Hello Eric,
Again, thank you for your feedback.
I understand your points, in particular "allow the flexibility of choosing an existing SQL Server database" and "focused more to companies/institutions that already have the necessary infrastructure in place".
We did think long and hard about this, and decided (to begin with), for a self-serve Trial, we should focus on allowing Trial users to see the capability of Blue Prism, building processes and doing interesting things with your / their own applications. That's why we are starting with a simple (pre-configured) standalone copy of Blue Prism with Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB.
However, I've noted your comments and we review all feedback. By virtual you have the full application, we already allow you (in the Trial) to connect to your own SQL database, so it wouldn't be too difficult technically to make this more prominent in a future version, although getting the user experience right may be trickier. We'll continue to monitor the feedback and will improvement accordingly.
Further information:
30-09-19 02:29 PM
30-09-19 02:43 PM
Hey Joe,
Re: Along with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, is Windows Server also supported? I.e. could I run the free trial on Windows Server?
The short answer: No
Context and Rationale:
Windows Server is not supported for Blue Prism Trial and Learning Edition, however we haven't deliberately blocked it from installing.
Blue Prism Trial and Learning Edition runs as a standalone app, with Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB on the PC the user is logged into. I wouldn't see why someone would want to run an app in user-context on a Server Computer (oppose to client PC).
If the Blue Prism Community can share why they would want this, we will consider for a future release.
01-10-19 09:17 AM
01-10-19 02:00 PM
Hello Eric.
As always, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
You've made an interesting point (default Azure instances) to justify why we may want to state Windows Servers are a native platform for Trial and Learning Edition. We deliberately targeted client PCs for the self-serve Blue Prism Trial, on the belief that would best serve the people wanting to take a Trial of Blue Prism.
Re: Perhaps another idea for the future would be a "unified" installer
All valid points and we did consider developing a single installer, to enforce consistency and simplify the user journey by removing the choice of which installer to utilize.
To begin with, we started by combining the installer and changed to deliberately split the installers in two (Enterprise and Trial/Learning Edition) so that we could keep the size of the Enterprise installer msi to the smallest possible size. Including Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB as a distribution within the installer added around 45mb, which we didn't want to do.
We also didn't want to degrade the user experience for Enterprise customers or Trial / Learning Edition users by providing additional options to think about when installing, before getting on with using Blue Prism.
I expect to keep separate for the foreseeable future, but we're open to combining again at some point in the future.
Re: …that is if there still exists BP in a x86 version?
Yes, for the Enterprise product, we provide both an x64 and x32 bit installer.
If you have access, you will find the x86 installer on the product page on our customer portal: https://portal.blueprism.com/products/enterprise
I think I'm addressed all your points Eric and hopefully provided you some context to our choices.
Kind regards
03-06-22 04:13 PM