Question

I’ve mvc3.0 (.net 4.0) application that needs to be deployed to windows server 2008.

Could some one please help with my queries below?

1. Do I need to install MVC 3.0 on server if I’ve referenced all MVC dll (with Copy Local set to true?)

2. If I had MVC 2.0 installed on web server, does IIS picks MVC2.0 dll or MVC 3 given step 1 scenario above?

3. When does IIS looks at DLL vs. BIN folder?

Thanks heaps.

Answer 1

1.) Do I need to install MVC 3.0 on server if I’ve referenced all MVC dll (with Copy Local set to true?)

No, you could bin deploy your application.

2.) If I had MVC 2.0 installed on web server, does IIS picks MVC2.0 dll or MVC 3 given step 1 scenario above?

Assuming you have placed proper assembly binding redirects in your web.config It will pick MVC 3:

<runtime>
   <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
     <dependentAssembly>
       <assemblyIdentity name="System.Web.Mvc"
           publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35"/>
       <bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0-2.0.0.0" newVersion="3.0.0.0"/>
     </dependentAssembly>
   </assemblyBinding>
</runtime>

3.) When does IIS looks at DLL vs. BIN folder?

When the application starts, or when first required (assuming some assemblies could be dynamically loaded at runtime).