SharePoint 2013 Health Check and Post Install Checks

Question

I have to verify a SharePoint 2013 install for an external company and have never done this before. Looking to compile a detailed check list with things people have commonly came across to cause problems, and common issues faced. Key areas to check. I have began to compile a checklist. Any key additions to this?

SharePoint Server Accounts Setup

• SharePoint Farm Service (SecurityAdmin and DB_Creator rights on the SQL Instance)
• SharePoint Administrator Account (Local Administrator on all the SharePoint Servers. SecurityAdmin and DB_Creator rights on the SQL Instance)
• SharePoint Pool Account
• SharePoint Service Applications
• SharePoint Search Service
• SharePoint User Profile
• Check Applications Pool to ensure none running as a user account (Manage services > properties)
• Check Service accounts are not part of local administrators group

SQL Server Accounts Setup

• SQL Administrator Account (Local Administrator on the SQL Server)
• SQL Services Account

Server Setup

• Check SQL type, is it express?
• SQL on separate server

Hardware Checks

• Minimum 12GB RAM for SharePoint Server
• Minimum 4 Cores
• Minimum 8GB RAM for SQL Server (<1000 Users)
• Minimum 4 Cores

Server Versions & Patches

• Confirm all most recent patch and service packs
• Windows Updates all applied

General

• Check Central Admin for messages/warnings

Answer 1

couple of things:

• make sure User Profile Sync Services is up and running
• Make Sure Crawl is working.
• Make Sure Distributed Cache is properly configured
• Make sure the Managed Meta Data service is configured and other service application.
• Workflow Manager Configuration (real check only by creating a WF and testing REST)
• check the Event Log for any error( some time related to SSL, Security token service etc)

• perform the testing i.e:

  • creation of web application
  • creation of site collection
  • creation of workflows
  • end user testing.

• Perform the health check on the server i.e ram, cpu etc usages

• perform a load test on the farm

• you can also try to DR on the farm.

Answer 2

I followed following checklist :
- Check Health Analyzer on servers (WFE, App, SQL etc)
- Check Search Crawling and indexing
- Check Event Logs on all servers.
- Check Memory and hard disk consumption on all server.
- Check if SQL Back up jobs running successfully.
- Check if old logs are clearing up.
- Large Lists Throttling Issues
- New SharePoint Security updates (Monthly/Quarterly)
- Review ULS logs, critical SharePoint and SQL Server settings and configurations
- Remove unused Service Applications.
- Check for orphan accounts.
- Check for orphan features.
- Review Web Analytics reports.

There is one very helpful SharePoint checklist (Daily, Weekly and monthly) available:
https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/office/Sharepoint-Checklist-Daily-56293835