.NET - Application Deployment

The Windows Installer deployment technique allows you to deploy Windows-based and Web applications by creating a Windows Installer Package. The installer package has an extension of .msi and it contains the application, any dependent files, registry entries, and the rest. The installer package can then be distributed to various end-users by simply copying it on the target computers.

The end-users can then run the installer package to install the application anywhere in their computers. The installation takes place using the installation wizard; therefore, the users can easily install the application on their system. Once your application is installed on the target computer, end-users can open the application from the installed location.

No. The Copy Web Site option can only be used to deploy the Web sites.

If you want to host the application on a shared hosting environment, you should use publishing; whereas, if you want to create a Web application that is downloaded from a Web site, you should deploy the application to create a setup.exe file.

You can deploy an ASP.NET Web application using either the Windows Installer deployment or ClickOnce deployment technique.