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Applies to Product - Dynamics 365 Business Central

What’s happening?
Challenges in establishing a secure connection between Business Central (cloud version) and their on-premises servers, particularly when these servers are located behind a firewall or have private IP addresses.


Reason:
The underlying cause of the connectivity issues is primarily due to the firewall configurations that restrict access to the on-premises servers. Additionally, the requirement for secure two-way communication between Business Central and the on-premises server complicates the integration process.


Resolution:

  1. Middleware Development: It is suggested that customers develop a middleware application that can be hosted within their VPN. This middleware should facilitate communication between the online version of Business Central and the on-premises server without exposing the server directly to the public network.
  2. API Services Configuration:
  3. Enable API Services in Business Central by accessing the Business Central Administration Shell.
  4. Run the necessary PowerShell commands to enable OData and API services.
  5. Ensure that the PublicODataBaseUrl and ODataServicesPort parameters are correctly set (default port for OData web services is 7048).
  6. Firewall Configuration: Open the necessary ports in the firewall to allow access to the API services. This may involve working with the client's IT team to ensure that the firewall settings permit the required traffic.
  7. API Integration Setup:
  8. In Business Central, search for "API Setup" and select the related link.
  9. Click the "Integrate APIs" button to populate the integration tables with records for all APIs.
  10. Authentication: Use basic authentication with a username and web service access key as the password. Ensure that the solution is configured to use either NavUserPassword or AccessControlService authentication.
  11. Consult Documentation: Refer to the following resources for additional guidance:
  12. Endpoints for the APIs for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
  13. Enabling APIs for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, further investigation may be required to assess the specific network configurations and requirements of the client's environment.