Installing .NET framework (Netfx3) on Windows Server 2012 using PowerShell

Description

The purpose of this post is to provide instructions for installing .NET framework (NetFx3) on Windows Server 2012 using PowerShell.

.NET Framework is a requirement for SQL Server 2012.  If this has not been installed prior to a SQL Server 2012 installation, then an error message will surface during the installation process.  It is recommended to run the PowerShell command for installing Netfx3 prior to beginning the SQL Server installation.


Solution

1.  Make the Windows Server 2012 media (DVD) available.  For this example, I mounted a DVD drive on drive letter Z.

2.  Open Windows PowerShell as an Administrator.

3.  Run the following PowerShell command, replacing the source details with those specific to your environment.


PS C:\Windows\system32> dism /online /enable-feature /all /featurename:NetFx3 /source:z:\sources\sxs

Reference

Microsoft TechNet (February, 2012).  DISM - Deployment Image Servicing and Management Technical Reference.  Retrieved July 29, 2013 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824821.aspx

Microsoft TechNet (February, 2012).  Use DISM in Windows PowerShell.  Retrieved July 29, 2013 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825010.aspx

Verbeeck, K. (April, 2013).  Error while enabling Windows Feature: Netfx3.  Retrieved July 29, 2013 from http://www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/koen-verbeeck/2013/04/29/error-while-enabling-windows-feature-netfx3