Can I Deploy a .NET Core Website on a Server Without .NET?

Discover how to deploy your ASP.NET Core 3.1 web application effectively, even on servers without .NET. Learn the nuances of hosting options and requirements.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/70873357/ asked by the user 'urizark' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12000943/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/70874040/ provided by the user 'Brando Zhang' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/7609093/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Can I deploy a .NET Core Website on a server without dotnet?

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Can I Deploy a .NET Core Website on a Server Without .NET?

Deploying a web application can often come with a set of challenges, particularly regarding the server's configuration and installed frameworks. A common question among new .NET developers is whether they can deploy an ASP.NET Core 3.1 website on a server that lacks the .NET runtime installed. This guide will clarify both this question and the broader context of server requirements for .NET applications.

Understanding .NET Framework vs. .NET Core

Before diving into the deployment details, it’s essential to understand the distinction between the .NET Framework and .NET Core:

.NET Framework: A Windows-only version, primarily used for older applications and desktop software.

.NET Core: A cross-platform, open-source version designed for web applications and services.

In many cases, a server might have the .NET Framework installed, which does not imply that the .NET Core runtime is also present.

Key Considerations

When you run the command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

and it returns nothing, this typically indicates that the .NET Core SDK or runtime is not installed on that server. Here are some key points to consider:

Possible Scenarios:

The server has only the .NET Framework installed.

The .NET Core runtime is missing entirely.

Answers to Common Questions

Is It Possible to Have .NET Framework Installed and Not .NET?

Yes, it is entirely possible. The .NET Framework is a different entity from .NET Core, and having one does not automatically include the other.

Can I Deploy an ASP.NET Core 3.1 Web App on the Server Without .NET?

The answer depends on how you plan to host the web application:

A. Self-Hosting your Application

If you choose not to use Internet Information Services (IIS) to host your ASP.NET Core application, you can run your application as a self-hosted service. This method does not require the .NET runtime to be installed on the server. Here’s how you can do this:

Develop your application locally.

Publish your app by using the command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Run the application directly from the published output on any server where you have necessary permissions.

B. Hosting via IIS

If you prefer to host your application using IIS, you must install the .NET Core runtime on the server. Without it, IIS won’t be able to run ASP.NET Core applications. The steps generally include:

Install the .NET Core Hosting Bundle on the server. This bundle includes the runtime and the necessary components for IIS integration.

Deploy your application to the designated server directory.

Configure your application pool and site to point to your published application path.

Conclusion

Deploying an ASP.NET Core 3.1 web application requires a good understanding of the server environment and hosting options. While you can run the application without installing the .NET runtime by self-hosting, using IIS will necessitate its installation. By considering these factors, new developers can make informed decisions during the deployment process.

If you have any further questions or need assistance with your .NET applications, feel free to ask!

Видео Can I Deploy a .NET Core Website on a Server Without .NET? канала vlogize