Create a Custom Service Connection Group for a SharePoint 2013 Web Application

In my last post, I explained how to add items to the default service connection group (Application Proxy Group) for a web application by using PowerShell. I also described how to use the [custom] group to create application proxy group specific to a single web application. In this post, I'll walk you through the process for creating a custom service connection group that can be reused for multiple web applications. For example, you might want to have a Projects Group in addition to the default connection group.

You can create this group easily using PowerShell by following these steps:

1. Run the SharePoint 2013 Management Shell as an administrator.
2. Create the new service connection group using the following PowerShell:

$New = New-SpServiceApplicationProxyGroup -Name "My New Group"

3. Next, get a list of the current service application proxies:

Get-SpServiceApplicationProxy | Select DisplayName,Id

4. Copy the Id of each service application proxy that you want to include in your new connection group and add it to a text file with the values separated by commas.
5. Now add the comma separated list of  proxies as members to your new group (where $New is the name of your connection group):

Add-SpServiceApplicationProxyGroupMember $New -Member <Your list of comma separated Ids>

6. Your connection group is now added in Central Administration and can be assigned as desired.

 

Remember, you can remove connection group members by using:

 

Remove-SpServiceApplicationProxyGroupMember $New -Member <Your list of comma separated Ids>

 

And, you can remove service connection groups using:



Remove-SpServiceApplicationProxyGroup -Name "<friendly name in quotes or id of your group"

Both of these command require confirmation before executing.