Windows 2008 Core and WPF

Question

Is it possible to run/write a WPF Application on/for Windows 2008 Core?

Answer 1

No.  By definition, (from this page) Server Core's interface is very limited:

•There is no Windows shell and very limited GUI functionality (the Server Core interface is a command prompt).

That's the whole point of Server Core.  If you want to make GUI applications, use the standard Windows 2008 Server installation.

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Reed Copsey, Jr. - http://reedcopsey.com

Answer 2

Is it possible to run/write a WPF Application on/for Windows 2008 Core?

First, that beats the purpose of Server Core, just like Reed pointed out.

Second, there components a WPF application requires that don't exist on Server Core.

So, instead, a console application is the right way to go.

Regards,
Jie
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Answer 3

Guys,
I hate to disagree with both of you, but you can run all kinds of GUI applications on Windows 2008 Core. Here is a great codeplex application http://www.codeplex.com/CoreConfig/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=17029 that runs on Core and other GUI applications do run so there has got to be a way to write GUI applicatiosn for Core. 

After more reading and watching the video below it appears that the .NET framework that is installed on Core does not contain the System.Windows namespace :(
http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/philpenn/How-To-Develop-NET-Applications-for-Windows-Server-2008-R2-Server-Core/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee391632(VS.85).aspx

Basically what I would like to do is to rewrite the same Core Configurator as a WPF MVVM application that uses Windows Powershell to perform the configuration commands needed, but provides the GUI for ease of use. I pretty much have this completed and it runs fine on both Windows 7 and Windows 2008 non core. It requires no installation, but I can't seem to figure out what I am missing/needing in order for this to launch from Core. If I can not use WPF is there not another route I can take to get a GUI to display if nothing else but to fire off scripts.

Thanks!

Answer 4

Guys,
I hate to disagree with both of you, but you can run all kinds of GUI applications on Windows 2008 Core. Here is a great codeplex application http://www.codeplex.com/CoreConfig/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=17029 that runs on Core and other GUI applications do run so there has got to be a way to write GUI applicatiosn for Core. 

A few simple GUI applications (like Notepad) can run on Server Core, but others not. It's definitely NOT "all kinds of GUI applications". For example, how can a GUI application run on Server Core if it has dependencies on the Shell, while there is no Shell on Server Core?

The CodePlex project you're referencing here includes just some VBScripts, not a GUI application.

After more reading and watching the video below it appears that the .NET framework that is installed on Core does not contain the System.Windows namespace :(
http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/philpenn/How-To-Develop-NET-Applications-for-Windows-Server-2008-R2-Server-Core/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee391632(VS.85).aspx

This is what I meant in my previous post that components a WPF application requires don't exist on Server Core.

Basically what I would like to do is to rewrite the same Core Configurator as a WPF MVVM application that uses Windows Powershell to perform the configuration commands needed, but provides the GUI for ease of use. I pretty much have this completed and it runs fine on both Windows 7 and Windows 2008 non core. It requires no installation, but I can't seem to figure out what I am missing/needing in order for this to launch from Core. If I can not use WPF is there not another route I can take to get a GUI to display if nothing else but to fire off scripts.

Again, I'd say this is not only a technical problem but also a logic problem.

One of the purposes of the Server Core is to eliminate GUI to reduce possible weak points of the system. Now you want GUI back to the Server Core, that defeats the oringinal purpose. If you want GUI, don't use Server Core, use other SKUs instead. If you want a tank, get an M1 Abrams, not a Humvee and trying to put a 105mm cannon on it.

Even if you find a way to get the WPF components into a Server Core box and running, this is still not a supported scenario, no tests for these components running like this and if there was a problem, you're on your own.

Basically what I mean is you're looking toward a wrong direction, and I don't recommend you proceed this way (GUI on Server Core).

Best regards,
Jie
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If you have any feedback on our support, please contact [e-mail]

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