
In conjunction with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the concept of Managed and Unmanaged Solutions was introduced as a more straightforward method of packaging CRM customization and deploying to various CRM environments. This would streamline the release process while also enabling Microsoft Partners to use XRM to offer ISV Solutions for the CRM platform. Customers were able to quickly and simply install solutions from third-party suppliers, enabling them to import, update, and manage CRM customization with relative ease. The customization were previously migrated in the same state as they were in development, which occasionally resulted in customization being overwritten or corrupted by the end user, resulting in the solution becoming unusable. To a certain extent, managed solutions aid in the preservation of the ISV solution in the condition in which it was originally published, as well as the preservation of the ISV’s intellectual property.
Creating a new unmanaged solution and include any components from the original unmanaged source solution that you wish to update is the first step in releasing an update. This means that you must link the new unmanaged solution with the same publisher record that was previously associated with the old solution.
As a collection of modifications that are readily transferable from one database to another, a Dynamics CRM Solution may be described as You may deal with two different kinds of solutions depending on the context of your project and whether or not your environment is a sandbox. Unmanaged solutions are similar to the source code, whereas managed solutions are similar to the produced code (or executable).
Below is a list of the most significant distinctions between a managed and an unmanaged solution:
Unmanaged Solutions
- It is mandatory that all solutions begin as Unmanaged, which enables the client to maintain full control over their intellectual property and customization.
- Customization to the Unmanged Solution are made at the Unmanaged Layer, which is also a component of the Default Solution.
- Customization, registration of plugin stages and other activities are permitted prior to exporting as Managed.
- When you delete the Unmanaged Solution, you are only deleting the reference to the solution; you are not deleting the customization components.
- Ensures that the customer’s business customization and data are always included in the standard solution.
- Restoring the CRM from its last backup or manually removing the customization components from both it and its Default Solution is required in order to roll back the customization.
- Because it is more difficult to delete, there is less danger of losing customization and data.
- It is dependent on the manner in which the answer is provided. i.e. if it is internal or exterior
- Risks connected with the level of maintenance performed on IT infrastructure, TFS, and Version Control.
- If the company has processes in place to prevent direct customization to live / security, this is an advantage.
- Customers that are responsible for their own deployment will find that unmanaged solutions are less difficult to maintain.
- Allows for the taking of a production snapshot and the resolution of a blocking problem caused by the usage of unmanaged solutions.
- Merging behavior for customization updates is less complicated and less time-consuming than controlled behavior.
- The unmanaged solution may be exported as an unmanaged solution, but not the other way around.
Managed solutions
- Managed Solutions must be exported as Managed from an Unmanaged Solution in order to be used.
- Management is all about locking down the Component states so that they cannot be changed by anybody else.
- This protects the solution in the Target / Production environment, ensuring that the solution feature continues to function and that end users are prevented from damaging it. As a result, it can be maintained.
- Managed Solutions are deployed at the Managed Layer of the network infrastructure.
- The Managed Solution will be deleted, along with all of its customization and data stored inside it.
- If you don’t utilize a holding solution, you’ll lose your data. Solutions are additive; there is no built-in mechanism for deleting managed customization without losing your data.
- Those Managed components that may be customised will be done so at the Unmanaged Layer level.
- Once deployed, Managed Solutions become read-only, making it impossible to modify them.
- After a Managed Solution has been deployed to production, it is straightforward to roll it back or remove it.
- When preparing managed solutions for deployment, it is necessary to take into account dependencies and merging behavior.
- You will not be able to alter the deployment mode from Managed to Unmanaged after the solution has been successfully deployed in production.