KB168068482: Automation Engine - How to enable .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 on Windows Server 2012 R2, Server 2012 or 8.x

Description

A standard Automation Engine installation on a clean system requires SQL Server 2014 to be installed on that system.
The installation procedure of the Automation Engine prerequisites takes care of this and will install both the SQL Server 2014 Express Edition and all of its own prerequisite components.

One of these second-order prerequisites is the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component. Unfortunately, on Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.x systems, this component sometimes requires some manual intervention to install properly.

As Microsoft does not distribute a stand-alone installer for this component, the Automation Engine prerequisite installation procedure instructs the operating system to enable it instead. The OS may then try to reach out for a valid source, such as the Microsoft Windows Update channel, to download the payload of the component (as for the OS versions mentioned, this payload is not readily available).

In case such a download is initiated, this action may fail, possibly for one of these reasons:

The access to the Microsoft Windows Update channel is blocked on the computer by a group policy.
Access to the Microsoft Windows Update channel is prohibited by other measures or there is no internet connection possible at all.

For the first case, the group policy might be adapted. See the Procedure 1 below.
For the second case, either a network connection should be set up, or an original Windows (operating system) installation medium (e.g. a Windows DVD) must be used to enable the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component. See the Procedure 2 below.

If, in the first case, the policy cannot be adapted (e.g. because it is defined as a global policy by the IT department), the procedure for the second case can be considered.

Important remark

In both cases, the installation of the Automation Engine prerequisites must be restarted after the manual intervention, this is to let it run to completion.

Symptoms

The fact that the Automation Engine prerequisites installation cannot install the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component will typically be reported as follows:

There may also be an indication of potential network connection problems, which can look like this:

Procedure 1: Adapt Windows group policy for optional component installation and component repair

Applies to Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.x

In case the system is configured to use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) for servicing, it may occur that fetching and installing the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component is not possible (f.i. because its payload is not available on the WSUS server and there is no other way configured to get to it).

When allowed by your own IT-policy, follow the below steps to change the Windows group policy so it contacts Windows Update directly to obtain optional installation or repair content, this instead of going through WSUS.

Note that in case of doubt, or when the IT-policy would not allow for it, Procedure 2 can be considered as well.

In the Search box (from Settings or from Everywhere), type Group Policy and then click Edit group policy.
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System and select Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair.
Double-click this entry, or right-click and select Edit policy setting.
1. Select 'Enabled'.
2. Select 'Contact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)'.
3. Click Apply and then click OK.
Now go back to the Automation Engine installer and try to install the Prerequisites again.
If the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component installation still fails, the access to the Windows Update channel is probably blocked by (an)other rule(s) in the IT-policy.
In that case, follow Procedure 2 below to install the component using a Windows Installation medium.
When needed, revert the changes to these settings after the Automation Engine installation is completed.

Procedure 2: Using a Windows installation medium

Follow one of the methods in this procedure to enable the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component, making use of an available Windows installation medium (such as an original Windows distribution DVD).

Method A: Adapt Windows group policy for optional component installation and component repair

Applies to Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.x

When allowed by your IT-policy, follow the below steps to change the Windows group policy so you can obtain optional installation or repair content from an alternate source.

In the Search box (from Settings or from Everywhere), type Group Policy and then click 'Edit group policy'.
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System and select Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair.
Double-click this entry, or right-click and select Edit policy setting.
1. Select 'Enabled'.
2. Specify the Alternate source file path as a fully qualified path to a (shared) folder that contains the contents of the \sources\sxs folder from an original Windows installation medium.
  Example 1: D:\sources\sxs (with D: the drive letter corresponding to your DVD-reader or other appropriate distribution medium)
  Example 2: \\server_name\share\Win8sxs
3. Click Apply and then click OK.
Now go back to the Automation Engine installer and try to install the Prerequisites again.
If needed, revert the changes to these settings after the Automation Engine installation is completed.

Method B: Via the Add Roles and Features Wizard

Applies only to Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012

Follow the steps for this method to install the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 component manually.

In the Search box (from Settings or from Everywhere), type Windows features and then click 'Turn Windows features on or off'.
The Add Roles and Features Wizard opens.
Click Next in the windows (shown in the screenshot) that follows.
In the 'Select Features' window, enable the .NET 3.5 Features option and click Next.
Click 'Specify an alternate source path'.
Type a fully qualified path to a (shared) folder that contains the contents of the \sources\sxs folder from an original Windows installation medium.
Example 1: D:\sources\sxs (with D: being the drive letter corresponding to your DVD-reader or other appropriate distribution medium)
Example 2: \\server_name\share\Win8sxs and click OK to start the installation
Click the Install button.
Please wait while the .NET Framework 3.5 is installing on your system, then click Close to leave this dialog.
Now go back to the Automation Engine installer and try to install the Prerequisites again.