Deployment of the Windows Server AppFabric Beta 1
To quickly get everyone started on the Windows Server AppFabric, we decided to focus our second post on deployment. This way you can be up and running in no time and we can help you avoid any common issues. As a reminder, you can get the bits here and if you have questions we can help you out at the forums here.
There are actually four different ways in which you can install the AppFabric:
· Web Platform Installer
· UI Based Setup and Configuration
· Command Line/Scripted Installation and Configuration
· Offline/Sysprep Installation and Configuration
Installing the AppFabric using the technology provided by the Web Platform installer is by far the easiest way to get started. In this approach, all of the AppFabric pre-requisites are handled for you and configuration settings that are appropriate for a single machine installation are applied. This approach will satisfy anyone who wants to have a jumpstart in getting their environment ready. The other techniques provided are more suitable for preparing a production server or for configuring shared resources.
If you want more control over their installation you would opt for the UI based setup and configuration. The AppFabric UI based setup and configuration is designed to guide you through the steps necessary to perform the installation and machine level configuration of the AppFabric features. The setup experience is geared towards making the single machine installations as painless as possible. While multi machine scenarios are also supported by the UI.
If you are an advanced user setting up a shared environment you will be interested in the Command Line/ Scripted scenarios. Appfabric setup command line interface offers all the flexibility you need to select the feature set of the AppFabic features you are interested in and the AppFabric PowerShell cmdlets allow you to customize the configuration of your environment to suit your needs.
If you are setting up multiple machines then you will be happy to know that AppFabric setup also fully supports Offline and Sysprep scenarios.
Quick list to get you started installing AppFabric Beta 1
· Supported Operating Systems:
o Windows 2008 R2 RTM
o Windows 7 RTM
o Windows Server 2008 SP2
§ IIS Must be enabled and the following hot fixes must be applied
· Apply Hotfix 970773
· Apply Hotfix 970772
o Windows Vista Sp2
§ IIS Must be enabled and the following hot fixes must be applied
· Apply Hotfix 970773
· Apply Hotfix 970772
NOTE: Installation on Beta or Release Candidates is not supported. IIS must be enabled prior to applying hotfixes.
· Required .NET Framework:
o AppFabric requires .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 available here.
NOTE: Please cleanly uninstall all previous versions of .NET 4 Framework
· General Pre-Requisites:
o The Installation Guide and the Release Notes have a complete and detailed list of general pre-requisites that may be helpful if you having difficulties
NOTE: Make sure you uninstall any older versions of pre-requisites before installing the ones required by the AppFabric.
· Remote Databases:
o The Configuring a Server Farm section in the Installation Guide has good information on using a remote database with the AppFabric.
· Cache only installation:
o Microsoft .Net 4 is not required if you are only installing the Distributed Cache components of the AppFabric.
The AppFabric team is continuing to do work to improve the setups experience, the way the features of the AppFabric are integrated and the way pre-requisites are handled in all platforms. If you have any questions, you run into any problems installing the AppFabric , the best way to contact us is through the AppFabric forums.