Windows Management Framework 3.0 – Should You Install It?

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I'm posting this as a BIG CAVEAT to everyone. I know it's not a standard Q&A, but I think this is something every Windows admin should know. There is a very real risk of falling into Big Troubles.

Microsoft has recently released Windows Management Framework 3.0 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 systems, which includes some nice things native to Windows Server 2012 (like PowerShell 3.0) and lots of improvements to WMI, WinRM and other management technologies.

Windows Update is advertising it as an optional update.

Should I install it on my servers?

Update: As of 2012-12-19 Microsoft has removed the update from Windows Update after major compatibility issues with various products (including the ones being discussed here) have been reported by multiple users.

Best Answer

Short answer: NO, unless you really need it and you really know what you are doing.

WMF 3.0 is known to be not compatible at all with Exchange Server (both 2007 and 2010), at least until further updates are released for these products; also, although this is not yet officially documented, it has been found to wreak havoc on SharePoint 2010, and to break Small Business Server 2008/2011.

I've also personally experienced it completely and utterly destroying System Center Configuration Manager 2012, and breaking both the setup and the Configuration Manager for SQL Server 2008 R2, which, after its installation, started failing with loud complaints about the WMI service not being available (although it was actually running fine).

Last but not least, once WMF 3.0 is installed, it can become very hard to remove it, because its uninstaller has quite a real chance of failing, leaving your servers in an inconsistent state which usually requires a full O.S. reinstall to get them up and running again.

Be very, very, very careful with this update.

Update: apart from known compatibility issues with various programs, it looks like installing WMF 3.0 can (sometimes? often? always?) completely destroy WMI. Well, this sure explains why nothing seems to work anymore after installing it...

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