2006-02-15

.NET Framework 2.0 Configuration Tool

See part 2 or part 3 of this topic...

ACK! What was Microsoft thinking? The .NET Framework 2.0 configuration tool (MSCORCFG.MSC Management Console) doesn't ship as part of the .NET Framework. Rather, it comes with the .NET Framework 2.0 SDK.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/2bc0cxhc.aspx

In the .NET Framework versions 1.0 and 1.1, Mscorcfg.msc is installed with the .NET Framework redistributable package. Starting with the .NET Framework 2.0, Mscorcfg.msc is installed with the .NET Framework SDK.

This is a change from the .NET Framework 1.0 and 1.1, where the installation of the Framework put shortcuts in "Administrative Tools" for "Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Configuration" and "Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Wizards" for the .NET Framework 1.1, and similarly named tools for 1.0.
Sure, there are command-line tools that one can use to do much of the same things, but why remove the UI? The only thing I can think of is that if something's not there, someone can't play with it. But even if the Framework install lays down mscorcfg.msc, it wouldn't have to install a shortcut to it - that right there would probably keep 99% of the people away from the program. If someone needed it and knew it was there, they could browse to it and run it.

Seems odd. I hope to be able to do a bit more digging to find out why this tool isn't included as part of the base Framework install.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just ran into the same problem. I can't believe MS did that with .NET 2.0. So retarded!

Anonymous said...

excellent. i needed just this comment. Thanks.

Kenyon Best said...

.NET framework 2.0 has many new features that enhances the framework 1.1 functionality. Enhances security, XML support and much more.