Is there a WAMP/XAMPP for ASP.NET?

.NET
1

My PC uses Windows XP so looks like I’m stuck with IIS 5

However I don’t want to have this and SQL running in the background as its also my PC for general stuff.

It also isn’t powerful enough to run multiple Virtual PCs with Windows Server installed on it either.

Is there a WAMP type package I can install? ASP.NET is really taking my interest of late.

2

Why. Just because it comes with IIS doesn’t mean you can’t download and install a different web server such as Apache. The WAMP and XAMPP packages do just that (along with downloading PHP, mySQL, phpMyAdmin etc all in one go with an integrated install).

If you want to have a web server with database access available on your computer then you need the web server and database services running when you want that access. I have successfully run such a setup on a 500Mz Pentium system with no impact on using it for other things so unless your computer is older than that leaving them running will not even be noticed.

As each of the programs to set up an ASP.NET hosting environment need to be purchased separately there is no package download available (unless you can find a store that offers such a combination for purchase).

3
  1. Download the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. I would not reccomend downloading .NET beta 4.0.
  2. Download Visual Studio Express - Free (or VS Pro, if you have the coin).
  3. Download SQL Express (Free) their is also a Developer Edition ($50 - reccomended) fully featured, but can’t use it in an production enviroment.
  4. Downloading free supporting modules (Silverlight, MVC, .ect) Not required, however if you want to stay on top with .NET, I would advise using current features.

Also, since I am in college, I receive many development systems free (VS Pro, SQL Server Developer, Windows Server, .ect.) In order to qualify for the software you must be in college and have an college email account. Check out: www.dreamspark.com …if you are in college, you are good to go, and just follow the steps on the website. And yes, they are the full-versions.

EDIT: If you are in high school you will also be classified for the development tools.

4

Thanks.

I know I need to run SQL on my PC, but I don’t want to run it all the time or at startup. What do I need to disable so I can run this environment only when I do development work?

So IIS 5 is ok with running ASP.NET 3.5 stuff?

I have access to the entire MS suite from work, although I will be installing all the free stuff at home.

5

Visual Studio has a built in web server that you can start by hitting F5 when you have a web project, I also think it is included with the Express product. I don’t have IIS installed on a few of my development machines as the builtin dev server is usually enough. I would also recommend Sql Express, it works more or less the same as the standard Sql Server, and has a smaller memory footprint and is free.

Sql Server comes with a configuration tool that will let you easily start/stop the service for when you are not developing.

You might want to check out the Microsoft Web Platform installer (http://www.microsoft.com/web/downloads/platform.aspx) as an aid you get things setup quickly and easily.

Mono is another option (http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page) if you want to investigate hosting an asp.net applicaton on linux

6

I have SQL running on my XP machine all the time and never use it. And I never even notice it running. SQL starts getting heavy when it starts getting hammered. Are you trying to host a website or something from your dev machine? Yes, IIS 5 can run .net 3.5 and SP1.

So I would say, just install SQL and dnt worry about it. But if you are that paranoid, it is easy enought just to stop or start the SQL service