Hmm, I've read the VC2008EE EULA, redist.txt and notes on MSDN that seem
to all indicate that it's ok to redistribute the vcredist_x86.exe. I'm
not 100% if it is or isn't, but:
1) The VC2008EE states in relevant part:
"You may copy and distribute the object code form of code listed in
REDIST.TXT files."
2) The redist.txt file indicates in relevant part:
Visual C++ Runtime files
Subject to the license terms for the software, you may redistribute the
.EXE files (unmodified) listed below.
These files can be run as prerequisites during installation.
vcredist_x86.exe
vcredist_x64.exe
vcredist_IA64.exe
3) The MSDN Visual C++ Development Center indicates this Note from the
following URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms235299.aspx:
The Visual C++ Redistributable Package (VCRedist_x86.exe,
VCRedist_x64.exe, VCRedist_ia64.exe) has to be executed on the target
system as a prerequisite to installation of the application. This
package installs and registers all Visual C++ libraries.
Note: Redistributing Visual C++ libraries using this package is
recommended for applications built with Visual C++ Express and for cases
when deployment of all Visual C++ libraries at once is desirable.
SO ... I *think* it's OK, but if it isn't (or if we're unwilling to
include it in case it isn't), is there another alternative besides
checking for the proper CRT and warning the user? For example, is it OK
to include the .dll's themselves, i.e., from redist.txt:
For your convenience, we have provided the following folders for use
when redistributing VC++ runtime files. Subject to the license terms for
the software, you may redistribute the folder (unmodified) in the
application local folder as a sub-folder with no change to the folder
name. You may also redistribute all the files (*.dll and *.manifest)
within a folder, listed below the folder for your convenience, as an
entire set.
\VC\redist\x86\Microsoft.VC90.MFC\
mfc90.dll
mfc90u.dll
mfcm90.dll
mfcm90u.dll
Microsoft.VC90.MFC.manifest
- Chris
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wireshark-dev-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wireshark-dev-
> bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gerald Combs
> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 1:32 PM
> To: wireshark-dev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Wireshark-dev] Bundling vcredist_x86.exe (was Re: First time
> compiling with VS2008EE)
>
> The license agreements for the 2005EE and 2008EE versions of
> vcredist_x86.exe both have the following text:
>
> "You may not:
>
> [ lots of scary bullet points ]
>
> * publish the software for others to copy;"
>
> In other words, Microsoft wants you to get the redistributable CRT
> packages from Microsoft and nowhere else. It looks like we're letting
> people violate this in wireshark.nsi since we provide the option of
> bundling vcredist_x86.exe. Should we check for the presence of the
proper
> CRT and just warn the user instead?
>
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