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Microsoft Warns Exchange Server Users To Avoid .NET Framework 4.7
Microsoft today issued an announcement warning that current Exchange Server versions don't support the newly released .NET Framework 4.7 and that organizations using the server should block the installation of the new framework for the time being.
Exchange Server versions currently have the broadest support using .NET Framework 4.6.2, according to Microsoft's "Exchange Server Supportability Matrix" article. If .NET Framework 4.7 did get installed in an environment running Exchange Server, then IT pros need to back out of it, following the steps in the announcement. As a preventive measure, it's possible to set up a temporary block of the framework through a Registry edit, as described in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 4024204.
Microsoft first released .NET Framework 4.7 as part of the Windows 10 "creators update" current branch release in April. Microsoft later announced that it had reached "general availability" commercial-use status in May.
The new framework is conceived as an in-place upgrade to other 4.x frameworks, but it will run side-by-side with older 3.x versions, such as .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1.
The new .NET Framework 4.7 supports the Windows 10 "creators update" and "anniversary update" releases, as well as Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 Service Pack 1. It also supports Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.
The new framework oddly has a specific DirectX file dependency for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, as described in Knowledge Base article KB4019265, although there's a known issue associated with the use of AMD Carrizo DDR4 processors. A DirectX file also needs to be present to use the new framework with Windows Server 2012, as described in Knowledge Base article KB4019218. IT pros can get these DirectX files as standalone install packages at this Microsoft Update Catalog page.
The improvements brought by .NET Framework 4.7 include high dots-per-inch on Windows Forms in Windows 10, as well as touch support for Windows Presentation Foundation applications. The framework also adds supports for C# version 7 and Visual Basic version 15. Enhanced cryptographic support was added as well.
Today, .NET Framework 4.7 will be arriving for users of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) management system as a "recommended update" for all supported Windows clients and server operating systems, according to a Microsoft announcement, although Windows 10 users got it earlier. Microsoft is planning to release Language Packs for .NET Framework 4.7 via WSUS, too, but the timing wasn't announced. Blocking .NET Framework 4.7 on WSUS involves carrying out the Registry edits described in KB4024204.
The new framework is expected to be available from the Windows Update service in a couple of months. Update 6/14: a new announcement explained that .NET Framework 4.7 is already available on Windows Update, but the framework is undergoing a throttled release, based on Microsoft's telemetry information, and so it will be rolling out "over the next few weeks" in various regions.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.