.NET Framework 3.5

[cookie_monster]

We have a couple of .NET apps that we deploy using GPO, because of this we also deploy .NET 2.0 by GPO first so that the other apps will install. I'd like to deploy .NET 3.5 via GPO which I can see is possible but i've come accross a couple of contradictions.

 

MS say that a prerequisit for installing .NET 3.5 is .NET 2.0 SP1. I was under the impression that 3.5 included this as when I install 3.5 on a PC without any .NET Framework on already it installs 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

 

So do you have to have .NET 2.0 installed before you install .NET 3.5?

[irsprint]

From my programming days, Microsoft said the same thing but I found you had to install 1.1, 2.0 and 3.5 even though its states its backward compatible

[Theblacksheep]

Depends what version you're pushing out... The big main package includes them all.

 

Not a CC3 network is it?

[cookie_monster]

Not a CC3 network is it?

 

No

 

I followed the link below to create an admin install point and it creates three seperate packages, it seems that 3.5 is dependant on previouse versions.

 

.NET Framework 3.5 Deployment Guide for Administrators

[Michael]

The .NET Framework is a bit of a mess to be honest and Microsoft have done a bad job making it clear what is required. Thankfully Windows Vista and Windows 7 include the later versions of .NET Framework so this is less of a problem as it's available 'out the box'.

 

My understanding is the .NET Framework 3.5 requires no prior version installed to be installed. .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 includes SP2 for .NET 2.0 and .NET 3.0 (if they're installed).

 

If you take a look at the Logistix Microsoft .NET Framework Pack, I have essentially scripted all .NET versions so they install silently. You could easily adapt this to run from a network share.

[cookie_monster]

Yes it's a pain. When the admin share is created it contains an msi for .NET 2.0 SP2 .NET 3.0 SP2 and .NET 3.5 and you have to deploy them all. I might just deploy it from the WSUS server and stick to deploying just .NET 2.0 via GPO to support the other GPO apps.

[Michael]

In an ideal world this is where installing them on your master images can save you a massive job later on. More applications and drivers seem to rely on .NET these days.