Microsoft Web Platform Installer RC now out!
You may ask, Why? Well, for the readers who are not yet aware of Web PI, it installs and updates all of Microsoft's web platform packages from a single interface. With the release of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, we have seen great enhancements in Microsoft's web offerings and it thus became a bit tedious to co-ordinate between the developer and an Admins choice of install. Well if you are into managing such a scenario, you will discover Web PI can save ample amount of time. However, there was a gotcha when I used it the first time around. It dint work on any versions of Windows prior to Windows Vista. If you are from a location near me you might already know that the practical use of such an offering would not be anytime soon. However, seems like Microsoft has heard our inputs and they have given us just what we wanted...
Bil Staples, a couple days back announced the availability of Microsoft Web Platform RC version which by the way now supports Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Now isn't that cool. Not very often do we see requests become a solution at such a quick pace.
However, something that seemed cool to me is the variety of options and flexibility this tool brings with it. All you need to do is install the roughly 600Kb file (Yeah! it's just that small.) and select the options you like and that's it. The installer will download and install them for you...
Web PI will take care of giving you the options that suit your Operating system version. For example, if you are on Windows Vista then you will get the option of IIS 7 and if on Windows Server 2003 then you will get the option of IIS6. Sames goes for Windows Xp wherein you will get the option of IIS 5.1.
If you are a beginner on Web platforms then this is the best way to hit it off. Oh Yes! just one more thing... you need admin privileges to use Web PI and need to have the .Net 2.0 framework running... check it out...
