The document summarizes the key new features in Sitecore 9 including a new installation framework, federated authentication, replacement of WFFM with new Sitecore Forms, addition of dynamic placeholders, requirement to use SOLR instead of Lucene for search, rule-based configuration, xConnect as a new service layer, improved marketing automation, new machine learning capabilities via Cortex, new JavaScript services, enhancements to SXA, and integration with Commerce 9. It also provides details on system requirements and an agenda for the Sitecore Symposium presentation.

1. Sitecore 9 – What’s new?
The Future of Web Development is
already here
Adrian IORGU
November 27, 2017
Keynotes from Sitecore Symposium
LasVegas , October 16 -19 2017

2. © 2017 Sitecore User Group Conference Europe and its respective speakers. All rights reserved.
Adrian IORGU
Sitecore Consultant @ Boondoggle
Founder ActStudio.ro
SitecoreTechnology MVP 2016 & 2017
About me
• Passionate about web development, 15+ years of experience
• In love with extreme sports, nature and travel

4. © 2017 Sitecore User Group Conference Europe and its respective speakers. All rights reserved. 4
1. Sitecore 9 - System requirements
2. [New] Installation Framework – SIF
3. [New] Federated Authentication: G+, FB, Twitter
4. Welcome Sitecore Forms. Bye WFFM!
5. [New] Dynamic Placeholders
6. Search - Good Bye Lucene
7. Rule-based Configuration
8. xConnect
9. Marketing Automation
10. [NEW] Machine Learning – Cortex
11. Javascript Services – JSS
12. Sitecore Experience Accelerator - SXA
Agenda - Keynotes from Sitecore Symposium 2017

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System requirements
• Windows Server 2016 / 2012 R2 (64-bit)
• Windows 10 / 8.1 (32/64-bit)
• IIS 8.5 or IIS 10
• Web Deploy 3.6
• .Net Framework 4.6.2
• SQL Server 2016 SP1
 (SQL Server 2014 SP2 for XM/CMS-only mode)
 MongoDB + CosmosDB for xDB coming soon
• SOLR 6.6.1 • (Lucene for XM/CMS-only mode)
• Azure Search
• Https Certificates – Sitecore 9 is Secured By Default

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Sitecore 9 - Secured by Default
HTTPS communication across platform
 Web Servers (CD, CM, Reporting, Processing)
 xConnect
 SOLR
Encrypted
 Data-at-rest
 Data-in-motion
• Must obtain SSL certifications
• Local => Self Signed Certificates

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New Installation Framework available
• Based on PowerShell modules
• Configurable, Extendible Framework
• Integrate with your own deployment processes
Support for SIM is coming soon
Sitecore Installation Framework – SIF
Register-PSRepository -Name SitecoreGallery -SourceLocation
https://sitecore.myget.org/F/sc-powershell/api/v2 Install-Module
SitecoreInstallFramework

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Support for OWIN authentication middleware enabling users to log in via standard
Microsoft OWIN authentication providers.
Possibility to write your custom OWIN middleware
Federated authentication supports two types of users:
• Persistent users – Sitecore stores information about persistent users (login name, email address, and so on)
• Virtual users – information about these users is stored in the session and disappears after the session is over.
Federated Authentication
• OpenId Connect
• Microsoft Account
• Google
• Facebook
• Twitter
• WsFederation
• OAuth
• SAML

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New Sitecore Forms – R.I.P. WFFM
• Allows you to create forms with drag and drop
• Completely resigned UI
• Ability to create form templates
• The Forms are located in /sitecore/forms
• MVC only support
• The oldWFFM is gone. [excitement]

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Sitecore Forms

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Sitecore 9 comes with built in Dynamic Placeholders
Dynamic Placeholders
@Html.Sitecore().DynamicPlaceholder(string placeholderName, int count = 1, int maxCount = 0, int
seed = 0)
@Html.Sitecore().DynamicPlaceholder(string placeholderName, Func<HtmlString,
DynamicPlaceholderRenderContext, HtmlString> outputModifier, int count = 1, int maxCount = 0, int
seed = 0)
This was the most requested feature on the Sitecore
Developer Uservoice and Sitecore Community Uservoice

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• Sitecore 9 no longer supports Lucene
• Existing solutions must migrate to SOLR or Azure Search
Search - Good Bye Lucene
LUCENE
Clarification: You can still use Lucene if you are running
CMS-only mode (i.e. no Analytics/xDB). If you are running
multi-server, multi-CD set up then best practice
recommendation has been to use SOLR/Azure for a while
now anyway
Kamruz Jaman
https://jammykam.wordpress.com/2017/10/17/sitecore-9-is-here/

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• Sitecore 9 configs are now using layers.The loading order can
be configured in the layers config.
• Conventions on Configuration files
• Ability to configure an server for a particular role by setting a
single setting in config.
• Additional patch folders allowing you to keep your custom
patch files separate from default Sitecore and Modules
configurations
• Ability to control the load order of config file and folders
Rule-based Configuration

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xConnect
• xConnect is the service layer that sits
in between the xDB and any trusted
client, device, or interface
• xConnect is a service layer
• xConnect implements the oData
protocol
• use the xConnect ClientAPI to read,
write, and search
• It can be used to connect with services
like SalesForce or Microsoft Dynamics

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xConnect
• Runs seperately from Sitecore :
http://xconnect.local/
• xConnect is also secure by default and
clients communicate with the
xConnect ClientAPI over HTTPS,
keeping your data transmission
secure.

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Marketing Automation
• Drag and drop interface to create automated online campaigns in Sitecore
• This is a replacement for Engagement Automation plans
• A lot of actions are already foreseen ( like validate e-mail-address, add contact list,
.... )
• It’s possible to add your own custom actions

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Marketing Automation

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Machine Learning – Cortex
• Machine Learning for real-time insights across native and
third party customer data
• It uses xDB and xConnect for learning
• First usage will be in path Analyzer to suggest
improvements on visitors flow

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Javascript Services – JSS
JSS is built for front-end developers who
use JavaScript and along with modern UI
libraries and frameworks, such as
React.js, Angular,Vue.js, etc.
Software pre-requisites
• node.js >= v6.9
• npm >= 5
Documentation on https://jss.sitecore.net/

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Sitecore Experience Accelerator - SXA
With SXA you can:
• Accelerate the delivery of sites
using standard functionality
with minimum-to-noCMS
development.
• Enable different work streams
to run in parallel.
• Assemble sites using
responsive and reusable
renderings.
• Use themes to enable brand
consistency.
• Choose between different grid
systems.

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Sitecore Experience Accelerator - SXA

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Commerce 9 + SXA Storefront

23. DEMO

24. Q &A

25. ThankYou!
More about Sitecore:
• sitecore.net
• sitecore.stackexchange.com
• sitecorechat.slack.com
• Special thanks to Kamruz Jaman (@jammykam)
https://jammykam.wordpress.com/2017/10/17/sitecore-9-is-here/