Windows Management Framework 4.0, our package that lets you use management technologies from Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on some of Microsoft’s older operating systems, is now available for you to download and install. This full-release version of Windows Management Framework 4.0 includes even more improvements than our Preview release. Be certain to read this blog post fully before installing, especially because WMF 4.0 is not compatible with certain versions of server products.
Windows Management Framework 4.0 Preview was made publicly available in July, and we were very excited to talk with community as they played around with our new work, knowing that it would only get better.
WMF 4.0 is available for installation on Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Embedded 7. Note that WMF 4.0 cannot be installed on Windows 8. However, you can obtain the updated functionality included in WMF 4.0 by installing Windows 8.1, which is available as a free update for Windows 8.
.NET 4.5 is an additional prerequisite for WMF 4.0; make sure it is installed on your machine before installing WMF 4.0. If .NET 4.5 is not installed, the installer will silently fail to install WMF 4.0.
WMF 4.0 contains updated versions of the following features:
- Windows PowerShell
- Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)
- Windows PowerShell Web Services (Management OData IIS Extension)
- Windows Remote Management (WinRM)
- Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI)
Additionally, we have added a new and exciting Windows PowerShell feature which is available in WMF 4.0:
- Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC)
To use this updated management infrastructure to manage Windows 7 SP1, Windows Embedded 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, and Windows Server 2012, WMF 4.0 must be installed on computers that are running the previously-released operating systems.
Along with the packages for each operating system, we have provided a set of Release Notes and an additional DSC quick reference. These have tons of useful information about new features, as well as a list of known issues with their workarounds and known incompatibilities with other applications. We encourage you to download and read them both.
After installing WMF 4.0, it is possible to upgrade your operating system to a newer release of Windows; for example, from Windows 7 to Windows 8, or from Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2012 R2. These upgrade scenarios have known issues documented in the Release Notes. Before performing an upgrade of the operating system, be sure to read the Release Notes, and be prepared to perform the additional steps, or uninstall WMF 4.0.
Also, please note that upgrading from WMF 4.0 Preview to the final version of WMF 4.0 is not supported. If you have WMF 4.0 Preview on your computer, you should uninstall WMF 4.0 Preview before installing the final version of WMF 4.0.
IMPORTANT: Not all Microsoft server applications are currently compatible with WMF 4.0. Before installing WMF 4.0, be sure to read the WMF 4.0 Release Notes. Specifically, systems that are running the following server applications should not run WMF 4.0 at this time:
- System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (not including SP1)
- System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 (including SP1)
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
- Microsoft SharePoint 2013 and Microsoft SharePoint 2010
- Windows Small Business Server 2011Standard
We acknowledge that there is still a need for management of Windows Server 2008, and Windows Management Framework 3.0 remains the answer for Windows Server 2008.
For any issues or feedback you would like to report to us, please use our Connect site at https://connect.microsoft.com/PowerShell/Feedback.
On behalf of everyone in the Windows PowerShell, WinRM, and WMI teams, we hope you enjoy this release.
John Lisco
Program Manager – Windows PowerShell
Microsoft Corporation