Silverlight 2 Tools, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Installed & Working Together
This article goes over the steps needed to:
- Install SQL Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 SP1 and Silverlight 2 Beta 2 together
- Install Visual Studio 2008 SP1 & Silverlight 2 Beta 2 together
- Items to remove if you had: SQL Server 2008 Beta/RC or Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Beta installed
Last week Microsoft released SQL Server 2008. SQL Server 2008 includes several tools and services that require .NET 3.5 Service Pack 1. The redistributable is included with the SQL Server 2008 installation. However, this caused problems with workstations that had Visual Studio 2008 installed. Visual Studio 2008 could not work with .NET 3.5 SP1 as it ran on the original .NET 3.5 version. This was the first thing I ran into when I installed SQL Server 2008 last week. This is all detailed in the Microsoft Help & Support section here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956139
The second issue is that even if Visual Studio worked, the Silverlight tools for .NET 3.1 SP1 were not released. So I ended up uninstalling SQL Server 2008 and putting off my upgrade on all my workstations/servers. Today (8/11/2008) Microsoft released several tools in order for developers to install Silverlight, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 SP1 on a single workstation.
Before we get started, this is what you will need in order to compete the installation. Please note these items, as upgrading your workstation to this environment can take some time:
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Depending on your workstation (processor/network connection), this can take well more than a couple of hours to set up.
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Plan for 2-5 hours of non-continous time (you click install and browse the internet while it installs)
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The more beta items you have installed the more complex the process will be
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SQL Server 2008 has a new installation process. It helps to familiarize yourself with it before going any further
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Visual Studio 2008 installed or CD (possibly need the CD media, more on that later)
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Downlad the Visual Studio Patch Removal Tool (ISO file)
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Download the Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1
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Download the Silverlight 2 Beta 2 Tools for VS 2008 SP1
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SQL Server 2008 (Download from MSDN, if you have a subscription) (ISO file)
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Extract the ISO files:
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Below are three scenarios listed. These should be done in the order noted below; Otherwise, you could run into problems. Specifically, SQL Server 2008 HAS to be installed after Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 SP1 (exception noted below):
On a 100% clean workstation, follow these steps:
- Install Visual Studio 2008
- Install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1
- After the installation, it will prompt you for a reboot. If you are planning to install the Silverlight Tools, ignore the reboot and Install the Silverlight Tools. If not installing the Silverlight Tools, reboot the workstation
- Install Silverlight 2 Beta 2 Tools for VS 2008 SP1
- Reboot (If you do not reboot, you will receive weird errors that say the SP1 or Silverlight Tools are not installed)
- Install SQL Server 2008
On a workstation that has Visual Studio 2008 and NEVER had Silverlight Tools installed, SQL Server 2008 Beta/RC, .NET 3.5 SP1 Beta, follow these steps:
- Install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1
- After the installation, it will prompt you for a reboot. If you are planning to install the Silverlight Tools, ignore the reboot and Install the Silverlight Tools. If not installing the Silverlight Tools, reboot the workstation
- Install Silverlight 2 Beta 2 Tools for VS 2008 SP1
- Reboot (If you do not reboot, you will receive weird errors that say the SP1 or Silverlight Tools are not installed)
- Install SQL Server 2008
On a workstation that has Visual Studio 2008 and you installed any of these items: SQL Server 2008 Beta/RC, VS 2008 SP 1 Beta or Silverlight Beta 2 Tools for VS 2008
- Uninstall SQL Server 2008 Beta/RC0 (if applicable)
- This includes all the components (.NET 3.5 Beta 1, SQL Server 2008 Browser, Support Files, etc.)
- Uninstall Visual Studio 2008 SP1 Beta 1 (DO NOT uninstall Visual Studio 2008)
- Uninstall Silverlight 2 Beta 2 Tools for VS 2008
- Run the Visual Studio Patch Removal Tool
- This tool will remove any VS 2008 SP1 Beta files remaining on the workstation and ensure you can install VS SP1
- This may require you to have your VS 2008 media (CD) handy
- Check out Heath Stewart's blog for more details
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Install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1
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After the installation it, will prompt you for a reboot. If you are planning to install the Silverlight Tools, ignore the reboot and Install the Silverlight Tools. If not installing the Silverlight Tools, reboot the workstation
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Install Silverlight 2 Beta 2 Tools for VS 2008 SP1
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Reboot (If you do not reboot, you will receive weird errors that say the SP1 or Silverlight Tools are not installed)
- Install SQL Server 2008
You technically do not have to install SQL 2008 last. However, it makes your life much easier if you do. You can do this:
- ...
- Install SQL Sever 2008 (Only install components of SQL Server 2008 that do not require Visual Studio 2008.) Do NOT select the following features:
- Management Tools (Basic or Complete)
- Integration Services
- Business Intelligence Development Studio
- Install VS 2008 SP1
- ....
- Install the missing components for SQL Server 2008 that you omited (SSMS, Intergration Services, BIDS)
This is NOT recommended, but possible. I figured I would post this in case someone else tried that scenario.
- All of your existing VS 2008 projects will open normally. There is no "conversion/upgrade" required
- I tried a couple of big Silverlight 2 Beta 2 projects and they transferred seamlessly
- Note: apparently ADO.NET Data Services in SQL Server 2008 currently do not work with Silverlight 2 Beta 2
- If you have any problems, feel free to post/email them to me