From d9b249969071d3ee7802cc49b3357e9e84a3a49b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Justin Paul Date: Fri, 8 May 2026 13:39:45 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Auto-install .NET 8 runtimes if missing MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit A fresh Windows Server install has neither ASP.NET Core 8 nor .NET Desktop 8, so the Service refuses to start and the GUI fails to launch — the symptoms link to aka.ms/dotnet-core-applaunch but it's not obvious from the GUI itself what's wrong. Setup now: - Detects each runtime by looking for an 8.x folder under %ProgramFiles%\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.{AspNetCore,WindowsDesktop}.App - Uses Inno Setup's built-in TDownloadWizardPage to fetch any missing runtime from the aka.ms redirect and runs `/install /quiet /norestart` - Treats Microsoft's 1638 / 3010 / 1641 exit codes as success If the box has no internet, the prereq install fails with a clear message and a "continue anyway?" prompt. README + installation docs list the manual download URLs and `dotnet --list-runtimes` check; troubleshooting has a section pointing at the same fix when the service won't start after install. --- README.md | 2 +- docs/installation.md | 24 +++++++ docs/troubleshooting.md | 22 +++++++ installer/webhook-server.iss | 124 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 4 files changed, 171 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 458f761..3548879 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Designed for sysadmins who want to wire up tools like **Zerto pre/post scripts** ## Quickstart 1. **Download** the latest installer: -2. **Run it.** UAC accept → next, next, finish. Adds a Start Menu entry, registers and starts the Windows Service. +2. **Run it.** UAC accept → next, next, finish. Adds a Start Menu entry, registers and starts the Windows Service. The installer also downloads + installs the **.NET 8 runtimes** (ASP.NET Core + Desktop) if they're missing — fresh Windows Server installs need this. 3. **Open Webhook Server** from the Start Menu (auto-elevates). 4. **File → New endpoint**, configure a slug + script, save, hit the URL. diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md index 3226555..89ae2b4 100644 --- a/docs/installation.md +++ b/docs/installation.md @@ -6,10 +6,34 @@ This page covers a fresh install. If you already have Webhook Server installed, - Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2019 / 2022 / 2025 - Administrator rights to install the service and to run the GUI +- **.NET 8 runtimes** (the installer downloads + installs them automatically if missing — see below) - (Optional, only if you publish from source) .NET 8 SDK The installer is **x64 only**. There is no x86 build. +### .NET 8 runtimes + +Webhook Server is published as framework-dependent (so the installer stays small) and needs two .NET 8 runtimes on the target machine: + +| Runtime | Used by | Auto-installed by setup | +|---|---|---| +| ASP.NET Core 8 Runtime (`Microsoft.AspNetCore.App` 8.x) | the Service / Kestrel | Yes | +| .NET Desktop Runtime 8 (`Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App` 8.x) | the WPF GUI | Yes | + +A clean Windows Server install has neither. The installer detects what's missing and downloads + installs each one silently before copying our files. If the machine has no internet access, install them manually first: + +- ASP.NET Core 8 Runtime — +- .NET Desktop Runtime 8 — + +Run each with `/install /quiet /norestart` for unattended installs, or just double-click. A reboot is rarely required. + +To check what's already installed: + +```powershell +dotnet --list-runtimes +# expect to see Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 8.x.y and Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 8.x.y +``` + ## 1. Download Grab the latest installer from the GitHub Releases page: diff --git a/docs/troubleshooting.md b/docs/troubleshooting.md index 5fecbd1..58978da 100644 --- a/docs/troubleshooting.md +++ b/docs/troubleshooting.md @@ -38,6 +38,28 @@ You launched the GUI without elevation. The admin pipe ACL is `SYSTEM` + `Admini **Fix in v0.1.0**: right-click the Start Menu shortcut → **Run as administrator**, or upgrade. +### Service won't start after install / GUI says "Disconnected" with no obvious error + +If `Get-Service WebhookServer` shows it stopped and `Start-Service WebhookServer` fails, or the GUI itself won't even launch, you're probably missing a .NET 8 runtime. The v0.1.4+ installer auto-fetches them, but a clean Windows Server box might still hit this if the install was offline or used an older installer. + +Check what's installed: + +```powershell +dotnet --list-runtimes +``` + +You need both: + +- `Microsoft.AspNetCore.App 8.x.y` — for the Service +- `Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 8.x.y` — for the GUI + +If either is missing, install from: + +- ASP.NET Core 8 Runtime — +- .NET Desktop Runtime 8 — + +Re-run with `/install /quiet /norestart` for unattended installs. Then `Start-Service WebhookServer`. + ### "Connection refused" hitting the hook URL Three possibilities, in order of probability: diff --git a/installer/webhook-server.iss b/installer/webhook-server.iss index 562546b..90ed61f 100644 --- a/installer/webhook-server.iss +++ b/installer/webhook-server.iss @@ -86,6 +86,17 @@ Filename: "powershell.exe"; \ RunOnceId: "RemoveWebhookService" [Code] +const + // aka.ms redirects to the latest 8.0.x patch. Inno Setup's downloader + // follows redirects via the Windows HTTP stack. + AspNetCore8Url = 'https://aka.ms/dotnet/8.0/aspnetcore-runtime-win-x64.exe'; + WinDesktop8Url = 'https://aka.ms/dotnet/8.0/windowsdesktop-runtime-win-x64.exe'; + AspNetCore8File = 'aspnetcore-runtime-8.0-win-x64.exe'; + WinDesktop8File = 'windowsdesktop-runtime-8.0-win-x64.exe'; + +var + DownloadPage: TDownloadWizardPage; + function ServiceExists(): Boolean; var ResultCode: Integer; @@ -96,6 +107,119 @@ begin Result := (ResultCode = 0); end; +// True if a Microsoft.* shared-framework directory under +// %ProgramFiles%\dotnet\shared contains at least one 8.x.y subfolder. +function HasDotNet8(const RuntimeName: String): Boolean; +var + rec: TFindRec; + base: String; +begin + Result := False; + base := ExpandConstant('{commonpf}\dotnet\shared\') + RuntimeName; + if not DirExists(base) then Exit; + if FindFirst(base + '\8.*', rec) then + try + repeat + if (rec.Name <> '.') and (rec.Name <> '..') and + DirExists(base + '\' + rec.Name) then begin + Result := True; + Exit; + end; + until not FindNext(rec); + finally + FindClose(rec); + end; +end; + +function NeedsAspNet8(): Boolean; +begin + Result := not HasDotNet8('Microsoft.AspNetCore.App'); +end; + +function NeedsWinDesktop8(): Boolean; +begin + Result := not HasDotNet8('Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App'); +end; + +procedure InitializeWizard; +begin + DownloadPage := CreateDownloadPage( + 'Downloading prerequisites', + 'Webhook Server needs the .NET 8 runtimes. Setup is fetching them now.', + nil); +end; + +// Runs a downloaded runtime installer silently. Treats Microsoft's +// "success but reboot pending" / "newer already installed" exit codes +// as successes so we don't fail the whole install over a benign result. +function RunRuntimeInstaller(const FileName, DisplayName: String): String; +var + resultCode: Integer; + fullPath: String; +begin + Result := ''; + fullPath := ExpandConstant('{tmp}\') + FileName; + if not Exec(fullPath, '/install /quiet /norestart', '', SW_HIDE, + ewWaitUntilTerminated, resultCode) then begin + Result := 'Could not launch the ' + DisplayName + ' installer.'; + Exit; + end; + case resultCode of + 0, 1638, 3010, 1641: ; + else + Result := DisplayName + ' installer failed (exit code ' + + IntToStr(resultCode) + ').'; + end; +end; + +function NextButtonClick(CurPageID: Integer): Boolean; +var + errMsg: String; +begin + Result := True; + if CurPageID <> wpReady then Exit; + if not (NeedsAspNet8 or NeedsWinDesktop8) then Exit; + + DownloadPage.Clear; + if NeedsAspNet8 then + DownloadPage.Add(AspNetCore8Url, AspNetCore8File, ''); + if NeedsWinDesktop8 then + DownloadPage.Add(WinDesktop8Url, WinDesktop8File, ''); + DownloadPage.Show; + try + try + DownloadPage.Download; + except + if MsgBox('Failed to download the .NET 8 runtimes:' + #13#10#13#10 + + GetExceptionMessage + #13#10#13#10 + + 'Continue installing anyway? Webhook Server will not start ' + + 'until the runtimes are installed manually.', + mbError, MB_YESNO) = IDNO then + Result := False; + Exit; + end; + finally + DownloadPage.Hide; + end; + + if NeedsAspNet8 then begin + errMsg := RunRuntimeInstaller(AspNetCore8File, 'ASP.NET Core 8 Runtime'); + if errMsg <> '' then begin + MsgBox(errMsg, mbError, MB_OK); + Result := False; + Exit; + end; + end; + if NeedsWinDesktop8 then begin + errMsg := RunRuntimeInstaller(WinDesktop8File, '.NET Desktop Runtime 8'); + if errMsg <> '' then begin + MsgBox(errMsg, mbError, MB_OK); + Result := False; + Exit; + end; + end; +end; + function PrepareToInstall(var NeedsRestart: Boolean): String; var ResultCode: Integer; -- 2.52.0