How to install .NET 4.6.1/4.6.2 on Azure Cloud Service Role?

Azure supports the .NET framework 4.6 and less. So if your application build around higher version of dot net like 4.6.1, 4.6.2 you need to install your target framework on the Azure Cloud Service Role.

Please follow the bellow steps to install the .Net Framework on the Azure cloud service web role.

1. Add the .NET installer to project

2. Define startup tasks for roles

1. Add the .NET Installer to Project:

i.      Download .NET 4.6.1 Web Installer from here

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49981

ii.     Create New Folder inside web role. Rename it as ‘bin’. Copy this installer in this folder.

iii.    Do this same for all role if more than one role is present in cloud service.

iv.    For worker role: don’t create the folder just directly add existing item to it and select the installer.

2. Define Startup Task and Add Install script:

A) Add Install script

                                I.        Startup Task will run the web installer form the project to your role VM.

                               II.        Copy the Below Code. Don’t change anything from it.

                              III.        Save it in notepad File, Rename the File as ‘install.cmd’. Keep the extension of the file as .cmd. Copy this file to the ‘bin’ folder created inside the role.

                             IV.        Your folder structure will look like this :

                                I.        Installer Code to copy in file is :

set netfx="NDP461"

set timehour=%time:~0,2%

set timestamp=%date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%-%timehour: =0%%time:~3,2%

set "log=install.cmd started %timestamp%."

if %ComputeEmulatorRunning%=="true" goto exit

see an out of disk space error *****

set TMP=%PathToNETFXInstall%

set TEMP=%PathToNETFXInstall%

if %netfx%=="NDP462" goto NDP462

if %netfx%=="NDP461" goto NDP461

if %netfx%=="NDP46" goto NDP46

    set "netfxinstallfile=NDP452-KB2901954-Web.exe"

    set netfxregkey="0x5cbf5"

    goto logtimestamp

:NDP46

set "netfxinstallfile=NDP46-KB3045560-Web.exe"

set netfxregkey="0x6004f"

goto logtimestamp

:NDP461

set "netfxinstallfile=NDP461-KB3102438-Web.exe"

set netfxregkey="0x6040e"

goto logtimestamp

:NDP462

set "netfxinstallfile=NDP462-KB3151802-Web.exe"

set netfxregkey="0x60632"

:logtimestamp

REM ***** Setup LogFile with timestamp *****

md "%PathToNETFXInstall%\log"

set startuptasklog="%PathToNETFXInstall%log\startuptasklog-%timestamp%.txt"

set netfxinstallerlog="%PathToNETFXInstall%log\NetFXInstallerLog-%timestamp%"

echo %log% >> %startuptasklog%

echo Logfile generated at: %startuptasklog% >> %startuptasklog%

echo TMP set to: %TMP% >> %startuptasklog%

echo TEMP set to: %TEMP% >> %startuptasklog%

echo Checking if .NET (%netfx%) is installed >> %startuptasklog%

set /A netfxregkeydecimal=%netfxregkey%

set foundkey=0

FOR /F "usebackq skip=2 tokens=1,2*" %%A in (`reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full" /v Release 2^>nul`) do @set /A foundkey=%%C

echo Minimum required key: %netfxregkeydecimal% -- found key: %foundkey% >> %startuptasklog%

if %foundkey% GEQ %netfxregkeydecimal% goto installed

echo Installing .NET with commandline: start /wait %~dp0%netfxinstallfile% /q /serialdownload /log %netfxinstallerlog%  /chainingpackage "CloudService Startup Task" >> %startuptasklog%

start /wait %~dp0%netfxinstallfile% /q /serialdownload /log %netfxinstallerlog% /chainingpackage "CloudService Startup Task" >> %startuptasklog% 2>>&1

if %ERRORLEVEL%== 0 goto installed

    echo .NET installer exited with code %ERRORLEVEL% >> %startuptasklog%  

    if %ERRORLEVEL%== 3010 goto restart

    if %ERRORLEVEL%== 1641 goto restart

    echo .NET (%netfx%) install failed with Error Code %ERRORLEVEL%. Further logs can be found in %netfxinstallerlog% >> %startuptasklog%

:restart

echo Restarting to complete .NET (%netfx%) installation >> %startuptasklog%

EXIT /B %ERRORLEVEL%

:installed

echo .NET (%netfx%) is installed >> %startuptasklog%

:end

echo install.cmd completed: %date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%-%timehour: =0%%time:~3,2% >> %startuptasklog%

:exit

EXIT /B 0

B) Set Startup Task in Service Definition

Add the below code to the ServiceDefination.csdef

<LocalResources>

  <LocalStorage name="NETFXInstall" sizeInMB="1024" cleanOnRoleRecycle="false" />

</LocalResources>   

<Startup>

  <Task commandLine="install.cmd" executionContext="elevated" taskType="simple">

    <Environment>

      <Variable name="PathToNETFXInstall">

        <RoleInstanceValue xpath="/RoleEnvironment/CurrentInstance/LocalResources/LocalResource[@name='NETFXInstall']/@path" />

      </Variable>

      <Variable name="ComputeEmulatorRunning">

        <RoleInstanceValue xpath="/RoleEnvironment/Deployment/@emulated" />

      </Variable>

    </Environment>

  </Task>

</Startup>

Your service Definition will look like this