Install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows Server Core Docker

Question

I am struggling to install .NET Framework 3.5 on docker container. I have 4.5 installed already, but need 3.5 to run one Service. Here is my Dockerfile:

FROM microsoft/windowsservercore
SHELL ["powershell"]


RUN Install-WindowsFeature NET-Framework-45-ASPNET ; \  
    Install-WindowsFeature Web-Asp-Net45

RUN dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /all

COPY Startup Startup
COPY Service Service



RUN "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\installutil.exe" WCS.WindowsService.exe


RUN mkdir Temp\Logs

ENTRYPOINT C:\Startup\setupBatch.bat

COPY ContainerApi ContainerApi

RUN Remove-WebSite -Name 'Default Web Site'  
RUN New-Website -Name 'ContainerApi' -Port 80 \  
    -PhysicalPath 'C:\ContainerApi' -ApplicationPool '.NET v4.5'

EXPOSE 80

CMD ["ping", "-t", "localhost"]  

When I try to build this, it gives me error on line RUN dism

Error: 0x800f081f

The source files could not be found.
Use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077.

Now, even if I run dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /all inside the docker (docker exec) it will still give me the same error.

Anyone with any help?

Answer 1

For those who are still are in need of .Net3.5 and .Net4.X (4.7.2 for my case) version in one image.

Please note that MSFT is aware of this demand, and have a base image for this scenario.

Use FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/framework/sdk:3.5-20191008-windowsservercore-ltsc2019 in your dockerfile.

Saved me all the installation hassles.

Answer 2

I took the following steps to resolve this issue:

1. Got hold of the Windows Server 2016 Core ISO file. Mounted the file on local computer.
2. Extracted the {mount}:/sources/sxs folder into a zip file (sxs.zip). Ensure that the .NET Framework 3.5 cab file (microsoft-windows-netfx3-ondemand-package.cab) is present in the sxs folder. In my case, this was the only file present in the sxs folder.

3. Copy the sxs.zip file to my container. I copied it using the dockerfile of the image.
4. Unzip the file to C:\sources\sxs folder in the container.

5. Used the Install-WindowsFeature powershell command to install the feature.

   Install-WindowsFeature -Name NET-Framework-Features -Source C:\sources\sxs -Verbose
   

   

Hope this helps. I also found the following blog useful in understanding the on-demand features. https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2012/05/14/windows-8-and-net-framework-3-5/