Hi,
I'm updating my install process and I'd like to hear suggestions on improving
my install process.
My apps normally consist of a web site and a windows service. The apps and
installers are for "in-house" use only. In the past, I've modified the install
UI to allow to separate install locations for the web site and windows service.
I think I did it this way because that's how we used to manually install apps.
Now, I'm re-visiting this decision and I'd like to fix two install related
"issues":
1. Have one install location for the application.
2. Move common files to a "Common" location.
Addressing #1 is fairly simple. Use one install location and use subfolders
for the different components:
[Install Directory]
[bin] <-- application DLLs
[Web Site] <-- Web Site files
[Windows Service] <-- Windows Service files
Both the Web Site's and Windows Service's DLLs are in the "bin" folder. This
introduces a new problem: How do the .NET apps find the DLLs? I used
SysInternals "junction.exe" to create a junction to the bin folder in both the
"Web Site" and "Windows Services" folders. In the config files of both apps, I
use a "runtime->probing" specification to tell the apps to look for the DLLs in
a "bin" subfolder. So, I end up with:
[Install Directory]
[bin] <-- application DLLs
[Web Site] <-- Web Site files
[bin] <-- Junction pointing back to top level "bin" folder
[Windows Service] <-- Windows Service files
[bin] <-- Junction pointing back to top level "bin" folder
This seems to work nicely. I'm not particularly fond of calling "junction.exe"
at the end of my install but it works. I'd rather have a DLL call. Since the
DLL could be included as a binary. I've been searching around for common
solutions to this install problem but I haven't seen it addressed.
I'm wondering if there is a better solution? I looked at using "codebase" but
didn't like having to specify specific DLL information. And I think it would
be inappropriate to use the GAC as the DLLs are for a specific app (rather than
DLLs that could be used by any app).
Thanks,
Chris McKinnon
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