Compiling x64 on 32bits version of windows (Teamcity)

Question

Our Teamcity agent is running on a 32bits OS for now and this was not an issue up until now (we now have an x64 applications to build in there).

I heard its possible to compile x64 applications on a 32bit OS but I've never did it. What would be the step required to have Teamcity build a specific project in x64 - Ideally using MSBuild?

When I set my project's MSBuild property "Run Platform" to x64 my agent give me the following warning: "Unmet requirements: DotNetFramework4.0_x64 exists"

As a side note: we will eventually move the agent to a 64bits OS but I would like a short term solution.

Answer 1

I think the Run Platform for MSBuild in TeamCity is for what version of MSBuild to use, it's looking for MSBuild.exe in the C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319 folder, when you're on a 32-bit version of Windows, and that framework isn't installed. However, the 32-bit version of MSBuild can invoke the C# Compiler that can still produce x64 assemblies, even on your 32-bit machine.

What you want to do is do a Run Platform for x86, but pass /property:Platform=x64 as one of your commands. If you don't have a x64 Configuration, you may considering trying to pass it /property:Platform="Any CPU". However, Any CPU would only be guaranteed to work if all the assemblies you reference in your project are set the Any CPU as well. Alternative, you can create a custom configuration where all your assemblies are specified x64, and pass that via command line to MSBuild.

Keep in mind if any of your projects are C++, you will need to make sure you have the x64 compilers installed, as I don't think they're installed by default.