Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 and .NET Framework 4.0

Question

We want to start developing on the newer versions of Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012. At the moment we are using Visual Studio 2010 with the .NET Framework of 4.0. We are not creating desktop apps, we are creating ASP.NET apps.

Before we spend a bunch of money on a new server and new server software, we were wondering if this can be done like this.

Can one develop apps with Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4.0 on Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012?

Solution

Yes, one can develop apps with Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4.0 on Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012. There are no known problems with that combination.

Comments

[Ramhound]

Windows Server cannot install .Net Framework because 4.5 is a replacement version for 4.0 and its installed by default.

[nate]

@Ramhound So what you are saying is that .NET Framework 4.5 is installed by default on server 2012, and you can't install 4.0 along side it?

[slhck]

I reopened this, but please delete your SO version now. Thanks.

[nate]

@Ramhound I am not sure what you meant by "Windows Server cannot install .Net Framework because 4.5 is a replacement version for 4.0 and its installed by default" that is dead wrong. I am running Windows Sever 2012 Datacenter and I have the following .NET Frameworks installed by Windows, none which I manually installed myself. 4.5, 4.0 Full, 4.0 Client, 3.5 SP1, 3.0 SP2 and 2.0 SP2.

[nate]

@Ramhound if I could leave a screen shot in the comment I would show that I have all of those installed that I listed. Also there is a huge difference in Server OS and Client OS. Windows 8 / 2012 is no exception to this. And it looks like Microsoft needs to rewrite their article.

[Ramhound]

You can leave images in a comment. You can also attach them to your question you have enough reputation. The article is accurate. I have personal experience in .NET Framework 4.0 being blocked from being installed.

[nate]

@Ramhound also there is this article support.microsoft.com/kb/2600213

[jth41]

@Ramhound how do you attach images to comments?

[nate]

@Ramhound Yes the article does apply, the problem is that you looked it up on a Windows 7 machine. I thought since you were talking so much about Windows 8 and Server 2012, that you would be using it. Please look at my screen shot, it will show what MSDN will render on a 8 OS. And to sum this up: You can have .NET Framework 4.0 installed on Server 2012, along with other versions.

[Ramhound]

@jth41 - The same way you post urls

[Ramhound]

@nate - I use Windows 8 on everything except a single machine. I promise you I looked a the website on my Windows 8 machine also. Neither the Multi-Targeting Pack .NET 4.0.1 or the Multi-Targeting Pack .NET 4.0.2 or Multi-Targeting Pack .NET 4.0.3can be installed on Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012. .NET Framework 4.5 is an inplace replacment for .NET Framework 4.0. I won't return to this thread.

[jth41]

@Ramhound so you have to upload your image elsewhere?

[Keltari]

as long as you dont use .NET 4.5 components, you wont have issues.

[Scott Chamberlain]

Well, one problem is if you are trying to debug a memory dump from a 4.0 system on your 4.5 system it wont work. Due to the BCL not matching version numbers.