Himmat Singh Dulawat (3x Sitecore MVP)

To increase the performance of the Website, or the current cache size are not enough for load then we need to follow the cache tunning procedure. A Sitecore cache consumes memory based on the amount of data stored in the cache. Cache size defines the maximum application memory the cache can consume. The following instructions apply to all Sitecore caches. The very first steps are to ensure that we have set the initial cache values before tunning. Use the following table as a starting point for database and HTML output cache values. Set initial cache values before performing cache tuning procedures. Before configuring the initial values, go to the cache admin page using sitecore/admin/cache.aspx page you can verify that the values are the same or different. In this blog, I will describe How to add set initial cache values using patch files. How to patch: Add the below patch file to your project. The below patch file has a patch for Prefetc...

This blog post is related to the upgrade approach of the Sitecore Database. There are plenty of documents available on Sitecore and other blog posts and articles about How to upgrade the Sitecore database, but this is different. I have an application in Sitecore 8.2 XP and it needs to be migrated to Sitecore 10.2 XM, please focus on instance XM instead of XP. Sitecore 8.2 XP instance launchpad as below:  Sitecore 10.2 XM instance launchpad as below: I have upgraded the Database using the SQL scripts provided by Sitecore here and now my Sitecore 10.2 XM instance launchpad is as below: Note: I have not published code yet on the Sitecore 10.2 XM instance, I have attached only the upgraded Database. So there are no config and other changes. I have also run the Sitecore UpdateApp Tool , after upgrading the database. Solution: To get rid of the Marketing Applications buttons on the Sitecore Launchpad, we can switch to the...

After upgradation the Sitecore project from version 8.2 to 10.2, I deployed the application on the Azure PASS environment. Everything was working perfectly fine and when I browsed the Unicorn.aspx page to sync the Sitecore items. It was asking me for the login. After clicking on the Sign in to Sitecore as an administrator and I entered the credential and it redirected me to the unicorn.aspx page with the same message. Solution: After some research, I have found that Sitecore 9.1 has introduced Sitecore Identity. Sitecore Identity (SI) is a mechanism to log in to Sitecore. It was introduced in Sitecore 9.1. It builds on the Federated Authentication functionality introduced in Sitecore 9.0 and the Sitecore Identity server, which is based on IdentityServer4. It provides a separate identity provider and allows you to set up SSO (Single Sign-On) across Sitecore services and applications. Then I explored the configs under the unicorn folder in my proj...

When you will install the Sitecore 10.2 XM, you might get a console error in Experience Analytics JS in the Sitecore XM launchpad vanilla environment. It sounds weird that in Sitecore XM experience analytics play any role. As per the Sitecore documents Experience Analytics features are incompatible with Experience Manager if it has been installed using XM packages.  Sitecore XP feature compatibility in XM Scaled packages So I came with a few doubts and questions: If there is no role for Experience Analytics then what is the use of ExperienceAnalytics.js? If we do not have any uses of Experience Analytics in Sitecore XM then can we remove this JS and solve the console error issue? Then I raised a support ticket to Sitecore, to get the answer. Sitecore Response: Thank you for contacting Sitecore Support. I was able to reproduce the issue locally. So this behavior was registered as a bug in our bug tracking system. Thank you ...

After a successful deployment of the application on an MCS environment. I started facing an issue on CMS regarding the client IP address '20.205.248.223' is not allowed to access the server. I have uploaded the upgraded Sitecore Master, Core, and Web database and changed it into the connection string. I was not using the default Sitecore 10.2 MCS database. Solution: The issue looks related to configuration of your Azure SQL Server "mc-********-***-****-****-****-sql". If you navigate: mc-********-***-****-****-****-sql -> "Security" section -> "Networking" tab we can see that the "Allow Azure services and resources to access this server" checkbox is unchecked. Thus, web apps cannot connect to databases without explicitly allowing their IP (which may change). For resolving the issue, please consider checking/enabling the mentioned checkbox. Happy Sitecoreing  😊

While upgradation to Sitecore 10.2, I was to restore the database on the Managed Cloud Service Azure SQL Server. I have connected the Azure SQL server on my local SSMS and started to import the Database using the option Import Data-tier Application. While importing the database using the above option you need a BACPAC file instead of a .bak file. So I was to create a BACPAC file of the database from my local. Go to the database, right-click and select the Export Data-tier Application option under the Task menu. After clicking on the next, while creating the BACPAC file you may get the below error: Solution: Go to the Users in that Database. Your Database => Security => Users Find the user, right click and delete it. If you are unable to delete the user and encountered a new error as below: It means the user you are going to delete owns a schema in the database and owners. First, you need to search which schemas own...

If you want to install Horizon and facing some pre-post installation issues and looking for fixes, then my previous blogs can help you. Install Horizon 10.2 with Sitecore XM Sitecore Horizon Issue Pre and Post installation Error: Go to the log file path of Horizon C:\inetpub\wwwroot\horizon.sc102.local\logs , and open the log file. Detailed Error: Solution: From the detailed error log, the issue is more related to OpenIdConnect and Authoring . I have checked the OpenIdConnect.xml file from the path in the horizon directory i.e. C:\inetpub\wwwroot\horizon.sc102.local\Config and opened the file. In this file, you can find that configuration is related to the Identity Server URL, which means the Sitecore Identity Server is not working. As the Sitecore Horizon interface is login worked automatically by Sitecore SSO with Identity Server. In my case, my Sitecore Licence expired and I have updated it to all instances except Identity Serv...

Today when I started with the Horizon and click on the Horizon icon, it’s come with a different error. If you want to install Horizon and facing some pre-post installation issues and looking for fixes, then my previous blogs can help you. Install Horizon 10.2 with Sitecore XM Sitecore Horizon Issue Pre and Post installation Error: To investigate more about the same, I investigated the log folder of the Horizon directory, but I have not found anything in the log file. I restarted the IIS and checked the page again but with no success. Again, I checked the log file and found that there was no new log created, so it is something related to the IIS. Hence, I moved to the event viewer and tried to investigate the issue there and finally found the error log which says: and the detailed error in the General tab: Solution: From the first line of the error log, you can easily find that it's related to the Sitecore Invalid Licence or expired...

In my previous blog, I discussed Multisite in Sitecore 10 . In continuation of that blog, in this blog, I am going to discuss what are the other important things we need to take care of while renaming or adding a site. Add entries to the <cacheSizes> section for site-specific: For the default site named website, Sitecore adds cache sizes for the website site. While working on the multisite we set up one more site with a different name. Then you need to add a section with the site name and add the caching values for that site. Example: Your site name is Site1 then create a patch file and add the below configuration: Update the Preview.DefaultSite setting value for the additional Site: This setting specifies the default site to be used in Preview mode. For example, if you rename the standard 'website' site, and add e.g., site1, please cha...

What is a PTA Partner Tech Advisor, added to the Sitecore Support portal? Sitecore has recently launched the Partner Technical Advisory support service. The Partner Technical Advisor (PTA) team is a team of expert developers and subject matter experts who provide partners with pre-sales, sales, implementation, and ongoing support and advocacy. Getting started: How to engage a PTA using Service Now, Sitecore’s case management system: Navigate to the Support Portal and log in Click on Support Cases Click on Partner Technical Advisor in the gray horizontal navigation bar Complete the simple form and add attachments as needed Click Submit (Note: You will receive an acknowledgment via email) All correspondence must be conducted through Service Now Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Do I need to be certified to engage with a PTA? PTAs are intended to support partner resources who are already trained and certified ...

Configuring a multisite in a Single Sitecore instance is an OOTB feature. It means you can share data, templates, rendering, and other items in the same Sitecore Content tree with two different website nodes. Each website node will have its tag and it's managed from Sitecore.Sites.config.  A single Sitecore installation, however, can publish any number of websites, each with its properties. The properties for each site are, by default, stored in the Sitecore Sitecore.Sites.config file.  The Sitecore Sitecore.Sites.config file includes a list of served websites listed in the <sites> section and the definition of the node will be defined into the <site name=”website” …/> tag. Sitecore parses incoming HTTP requests and selects the appropriate site based on the HTTP request parameters. Step 1: Create a new site node into the content tree: Create one more site node in the Sitecore tree. Best practice says each Site node...

After Login on Sitecore CMS does not redirect to Content Editor and throws error 500 - The request timed out. The web server failed to respond within the specified time error. I have deployed our Application on PROD CM and CD instance on the Azure PAAS and the instance is working fine. When I try to log in to the CM instance, I can log in, but instead of redirecting me to the Sitecore Content Editor it's throwing me an error 500 - The request timed out. The web server failed to respond within the specified time. After logging into the CM site, the following error is displayed: 500 - The request timed out. The web server failed to respond within the specified time After login into the CM instance: I have verified the AllowedCorsOrigins and Redirect URL in the identity server and CM instance in both Sitecore.IdentityServer.Host.xml and Sitecore.Owin.Authentication.IdentityServer.config respective files and all are correct. The same code and depl...

After successfully installing Horizon on Virtual Machine and solving the Horizon issue due to the URL binding in the IIS. And everything is working perfectly fine. Now it turns to Horizon URL binding and I have bound with a new URL name i.e., horizon.abc.com.  I opened the new Horizon URL in the browser and wait there is a new error I am getting, and it is related to the Authoring and SSL. If you want to install Horizon and facing some pre-post installation issues and looking for fixes, then my previous blogs can help you. Install Horizon 10.2 with Sitecore XM Sitecore Horizon Issue Pre and Post installation Issue 1: When I hit the horizon.abc.com in the browser, it’s redirecting me to the identity server URL for authentication and but after entering the credential it does not redirect me to the Horizon page. Solution: Go to the Sitecore Identity Server instance and open Sitecore.IdentityServer.Host.xml file {root directory}\ ...

In my previous blog , I discussed with you the installation of Sitecore Horizon in Sitecore Experience Manager. In the continuation of this blog, I am going to discuss some common issues which I have faced while installing Horizon and after installation. Issue 1:  Authenticating Error This is the issue I have faced while installing Horizon on Virtual Machine. The reason behind the issue was we have done binding on the Sitecore instance URL and changed the URL name to expose it outside the VM. Example: My instance name was sc102xmcm.local and sc102xmidentityserver.local and we have updated the binding of the URL in IIS with cm.abc.com and identity.abc.com. Solution: To solve the issue you need to take care of the following highlighted parameter value in the InstallHorizon.ps1 file. Issue 2 : Search/Indexing issue: If your search in Horizon is not working. Solution: It is because the $solrCorePrefix parameter value you assigned in Instal...

There are plenty of documents and blogs available on installing Horizon with Sitecore XP Experience Platform  but this blog is related with install Sitecore Horizon with Sitecore XM Experience Manager . Horizon is the next-generation editor in the Sitecore Experience Platform. Horizon comprises two editing tools where you can create and edit content. Before installing Horizon, you need to install the below prerequisites for Sitecore 10.2: Install Sitecore Experience Manager 10.2 Make sure your Sitecore CM site is working correctly with the HTTPS protocol. Ensure Sitecore Identity is installed Install WebSocket Protocol installed in IIS If you are on a local developer machine: Go to the Turn Windows Feature on or off from the Programs and Features option in Control Panel. If you are on Virtual Machine: Go to Server Manager, and select the Add roles and feature option in the r...

After upgrading the Sitecore version 9.0.2 to version 10.2. I faced one more issue related to the Forms that is I am not able to see any forms and its shows a message there are no forms to display. I have checked the console and logs as well but regrettably did not find any relevant error. I have checked the Forms node in the Sitecore content tree and all forms were there. Solution: Cleared browser cache Cleared Sitecore cache /sitecore/admin/cache.aspx Incognito/private mode to see if able to see the Forms Rebuilt Forms folder from the Developer menu (It solved my issue and happy to see the Forms in Forms Designer) If step 4 does not help you then go to the Control Panel, and choose the Indexing Manager option. Once you click It will open an Indexing manager window then opt for the selected indexes and rebuild Result: If you still face the same issue then you can check the other possible case: ...

After upgrading the project to Sitecore version 10.2 , the SOLR search result is different in order due to the query _val_:__boost function . I have investigated the issue and found out that in Sitecore 9.0.2 our SOLR search query was: ..........AND (-_template:("083a4d2a38694013a9e2d18c05da70ae") *:*)) and in Sitecore 10.2 SOLR search query is: ..........AND (-_template:("083a4d2a38694013a9e2d18c05da70ae") *:*)) AND _val_:__boost There is one more extra condition at last in the query i.e. AND _val_:__boost. I have gone through the Sitecore documents on Search Result Boosting and found that  In Sitecore XP 10.0.0 or later, item-level boosting relies on index-time scoring factors that are indexed in the __boost field and combined with the query score using the query _val_:__boost function. After doing lots of brainstorming I raised a support ticket to the Sitecore and find the below solution: Solution: Sitecore suggested ...

While rebuilding the index on your Sitecore CMS you may face scenarios where indexing data not populating in website search functionality, search stopped working, or slowdown. After completion of indexing again search functionality returns the results. Here Sitecore introduces the very nice concept of SwitchOnRebuild. To understand it assume you have two cores for your Sitecore index active and passive. It means when you rebuild the Active index Sitecore will return the result using the Passive index and after rebuilding Sitecore will switch the Active index to serve the results. It’s a concept of switching of Sitecore index during the rebuild of the particular index to avoid downtime and search unavailability. Recently when I was working on one migration project, when I deployed an application on the Azure Paas environment. I faced a similar type of issue while rebuilding the index it was throwing me the below error: Job started: Index_Update_IndexNa...

Sitecore Content Serialization is the development process, in which we move content changes between different environments. It allows us to pull, push, publish items and create packages for the various environment. With the release of Sitecore 10 came two new tools that support content serialization—the Sitecore Command Line Interface (CLI) and Sitecore for Visual Studio. In the Sitecore content Serialization using CLI developers need to configure modules, a set of rules to control what item you want to serialize and how you want to control the pull, push, and other option in your project. In the continuation of my previous blog on Sitecore Command Line Interface , in this blog, I am going to discuss with you Sitecore Content Sterilization using CLI. Install Sitecore Management Service: Sitecore Management Services is a package that you must download and install in your Sitecore Content Management (CM) instance to support Sitecore Command Line Inte...