Unreasonable demand for installation Node.js for Windows

[ViacheslavUKR]

Requiring for your installation packet of NODE.JS for Winodws is Windows server 2008 R2, Windows 7 or higher.
My working environment is Windows Web Server 2008 X84- this is the same engine as 2008 R2 server, but without some unneeded server component (like Active Directory controller), I have installed Net Framework 4.5 and other modern windows framework.
But, WHY Node.JS not possible to install to my computer?
Please, uncheck unreasonable demand for installation Node.js

[sam-github]

Does Node.js actually work on your system?

Is this a request to update the docs, becuse your sysem works fine?

Or is there something not working, that you request be fixed?

[mscdex]

/cc @nodejs/platform-windows

[seishun]

I think he's asking why Node.js requires Windows Server 2008 R2 or later and doesn't work on Windows Server 2008. I'm quite sure the reason is that the former has kernel version 6.1 (same as Windows 7), while the latter has 6.0 (same as Windows Vista), and support for Windows Vista was dropped in Node.js v6.0 (see #3804).

[bnoordhuis]

Answered by @seishun. Closing.

[ViacheslavUKR]

Hi, I working in Windows 2008 W_E_B Server - This is another server from Windows Server 2008 or Windows 2008 Server R2. Please see on the name of server - WEB means that this server not have Active Directory and another small additional component for DESKTOP, this server have ONLY component for web-development and web-hosting. But your installation V6 is forbidden on Windows 2008 WEB server and allow on Windows 2008 Server (in fact DESKTOP server). I don't know how Node.JS V6 working in my WEB Server, because installation on my system disallow, but Node.js previous version (V4) working in WEB Server correctly.

[ViacheslavUKR]

Additionally. Web server can not be with suffix R2 or without R2, Web server without suffix R2 it's the same as Desktop server with suffix R2.

[targos]

What error message do you get when trying to install?

[ViacheslavUKR]

"This application is only supported Windows 7, Windows server 2008 R2, or higher". But W_E_B server 2008 is higher than Windows [desktop] server 2008 R2. In fact, 2008 WEB server is most modern server from Microsoft (except Windows 2012) for web-hosting and web-development and 2008 Web server is full free (without money), therefore it is very popular environment. Windows 2008 (maybe with R2) with full server function can not be free, without money. This is reason to use WEB server 2008 instead DESKTOP server 2008 (with R2 or without R2).

[bnoordhuis]

Windows 2008 Web is just a rebranded and trimmed down Windows 2008 Server. You either need to upgrade to the 2008 R2 Web edition or stick with the last node.js version that supported Vista/2008.

[joyeecheung]

What's the kernel version of your server? (probably can be obtained by running the ver command)

[ViacheslavUKR]

Version of kernel of my server - 6.0.6002 (this server is named Windows Web Server 2008)
Latest .NET Framework version - 4.5

[joyeecheung]

Then according to #11004 (comment) if you want support from Node.js v6.x or higher and want to use a free Windows, the solution is to find a free Windows with a higher kernel version(>=6.1) I believe.

[joyeecheung]

Also this might be a doc issue, or an installer issue? They can be clearer about the supported Windows version I think.

[seishun]

I think the messaging in the installer is clear enough that you need at least Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

[ViacheslavUKR]

Yes, installer message is clear, you restriction inside installer is not clear!
What function of operation system we are using, higher than present in Window 6.0.6002 and NET Framework 4.5 ? So, this is most popular operation system among of any Windows, because this version full free, without any money.

[joyeecheung]

@seishun Ah, got it, "Windows Server 2008 R2" includes "Windows Server 2008 R2 Web edition". Sorry for the false alarm.

What function of operation system we are using, higher than present in Window 6.0.6002 and NET Framework 4.5 ?

I think what @ViacheslavUKR mean is, we can drop the support for a lower version of Windows, but we don't have to put an actual restriction in the installer? But I believe it is the installer that is using the features from higher version of Windows (#5167).

Also, if you have to use Windows Web Server 2008, one solution is to use Node.js v4.x, although there won't be support for this platform in the future.