Microsoft has just issued a critical advisory to developers using its .NET framework: you need to update your installation links immediately or risk serious disruptions. The announcement is a direct result of Edgio (formerly known as Limelight), a major Content Delivery Network (CDN) provider, filing for bankruptcy. As a result, its AzureEdge-powered domains that host .NET installation files will soon cease to exist. If you’ve got pipelines, scripts, or projects that point to these domains, you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle soon. Here's the lay of the land and what you need to do about it.
Historically, Microsoft has used Edgio-operated AzureEdge domains for delivering .NET components. Common names like:
If your code relies on these domains—say, to fetch dependencies, CI/CD pipeline components, or even containers—consider this your wake-up call. The outage could disrupt GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps pipelines, Docker images, and manual installation scripts that use outdated links. Essentially: if your tools are calling those domains, your builds are at risk of breaking.
Microsoft, in its announcement, strongly advises all developers to comb through their configurations, scripts, and code to identify references to azureedge.net and dotnetcli.blob.core.windows.net. Replace these aging URLs with new official domains:
Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) tools are central to most modern development workflows. If you’re using GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps, this change directly impacts you. Here’s what Microsoft suggests:
Microsoft arguably added fuel to this fire with quite an eyebrow-raising detail: it already owns the AzureEdge.net domains it’s abandoning! Rich Lander, Program Manager for .NET, explained that although Microsoft inquired about retaining full usage of the domains, that “option was not available.” He elaborated no further, leaving many developers understandably puzzled.
To muddy the waters further, Scott Hanselman, another .NET veteran at Microsoft, confirmed the tech giant has secured ownership over the domains. This move ensures malicious third parties can’t swoop in to impersonate AzureEdge.net—averting potentially catastrophic supply chain hacks. Despite this, Microsoft seems keen to expedite its migration strategy and dismiss the domains altogether, citing operational reasons.
Truth be told, the rush to migrate doesn’t fully make sense—why not keep the links as temporary fallbacks? This unresolved question adds an air of mysterious urgency while leaving users with little choice but to comply.
Microsoft acknowledges the timing isn’t ideal. With many IT teams running lean during the year-end holidays, this shift is inconveniently pressing. But given the critical nature of these domains and the risk of real-world pipeline disruption, immediate action is non-negotiable. If you’re reading this at your holiday party: sorry, but it might be time to put down the eggnog and get your scripts in order.
This isn’t just a hiccup in your development workflow; it’s a stark reminder of the fragility of modern supply chains. Entire ecosystems often depend on single points of failure (like a CDN provider going under). In this case, Microsoft was forced to scramble after Edgio’s unexpected bankruptcy.
It also underscores a wider challenge in the era of “infrastructure as code.” Hardcoded URLs, dependencies, and assumptions about third-party services can set teams up for failure if those dependencies vanish or change unexpectedly. It’s an unpleasant wake-up call—but potentially an opportunity to reassess how you manage reliability, failover, and supply chain security.
Here’s your to-do checklist:
The AzureEdge-to-Akamai migration is a glimpse of infrastructure challenges likely to arise more frequently in this decade. The growing interconnectedness of developer tools increases reliance on service providers, many of whom operate on razor-thin margins.
Microsoft isn’t just updating domains—it’s rethinking its content distribution model altogether. While they’re partnering with Akamai and Azure Front Door to stabilize their future, the road to January and February 2025 might be bumpy.
For Windows enthusiasts and .NET developers alike, this is your chance to not just fix links but reinforce your software pipelines against future disruptions. Let’s call it a New Year's resolution for resilient coding!
Source: Techzine Europe Microsoft warns developers: ‘update .NET installation link’
What’s Happening? The Broken Link to .NET Installers
Historically, Microsoft has used Edgio-operated AzureEdge domains for delivering .NET components. Common names like:- dotnetcli.azureedge.net
- dotnetbuilds.azureedge.net
If your code relies on these domains—say, to fetch dependencies, CI/CD pipeline components, or even containers—consider this your wake-up call. The outage could disrupt GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps pipelines, Docker images, and manual installation scripts that use outdated links. Essentially: if your tools are calling those domains, your builds are at risk of breaking.
Microsoft’s Advice: The New URLs and Transition Plan
Microsoft, in its announcement, strongly advises all developers to comb through their configurations, scripts, and code to identify references to azureedge.net and dotnetcli.blob.core.windows.net. Replace these aging URLs with new official domains:- builds.dotnet.microsoft.com
Ensure Your CI/CD Pipelines Stay Running
Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) tools are central to most modern development workflows. If you’re using GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps, this change directly impacts you. Here’s what Microsoft suggests:- Update GitHub Actions: You’ll need to upgrade any workflows that use
actions/setup-dotnet. Ensure they run on versions patched to support the updated domains. - Azure DevOps Tasks: Similarly, check Azure DevOps custom pipelines. Fix any hardcoded installations that rely on the soon-to-be-retired links.
- Firewall Configurations: Since the new domains—like builds.dotnet.microsoft.com—might not be whitelisted in your enterprise firewall, ensure you allow traffic to and from these updated CDNs to avoid communication failures.
- Prepare for Early 2025 Updates: New Azure DevOps Server releases will further streamline compatibility with the updated CDNs. Be sure to stay current on system patches.
Why the Urgency? The Confusing Domain Ownership Drama
Microsoft arguably added fuel to this fire with quite an eyebrow-raising detail: it already owns the AzureEdge.net domains it’s abandoning! Rich Lander, Program Manager for .NET, explained that although Microsoft inquired about retaining full usage of the domains, that “option was not available.” He elaborated no further, leaving many developers understandably puzzled.To muddy the waters further, Scott Hanselman, another .NET veteran at Microsoft, confirmed the tech giant has secured ownership over the domains. This move ensures malicious third parties can’t swoop in to impersonate AzureEdge.net—averting potentially catastrophic supply chain hacks. Despite this, Microsoft seems keen to expedite its migration strategy and dismiss the domains altogether, citing operational reasons.
Truth be told, the rush to migrate doesn’t fully make sense—why not keep the links as temporary fallbacks? This unresolved question adds an air of mysterious urgency while leaving users with little choice but to comply.
An Unfortunate Holiday Squeeze
Microsoft acknowledges the timing isn’t ideal. With many IT teams running lean during the year-end holidays, this shift is inconveniently pressing. But given the critical nature of these domains and the risk of real-world pipeline disruption, immediate action is non-negotiable. If you’re reading this at your holiday party: sorry, but it might be time to put down the eggnog and get your scripts in order.
The Broader Implications
This isn’t just a hiccup in your development workflow; it’s a stark reminder of the fragility of modern supply chains. Entire ecosystems often depend on single points of failure (like a CDN provider going under). In this case, Microsoft was forced to scramble after Edgio’s unexpected bankruptcy.It also underscores a wider challenge in the era of “infrastructure as code.” Hardcoded URLs, dependencies, and assumptions about third-party services can set teams up for failure if those dependencies vanish or change unexpectedly. It’s an unpleasant wake-up call—but potentially an opportunity to reassess how you manage reliability, failover, and supply chain security.
Action Plan for Developers
Here’s your to-do checklist:- Audit Your Code: Search for and replace all mentions of
dotnetcli.azureedge.netanddotnetbuilds.azureedge.netwithbuilds.dotnet.microsoft.com. - Test CI/CD Pipelines: Ensure GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps configurations are functional with the new domains.
- Whitelisting: Coordinate with your network team to allow traffic from
builds.dotnet.microsoft.comandci.dot.netfor firewall or proxy configurations. - Fix Docker Images: If you’re using Docker containers that link to
.NETtools via AzureEdge.net domains, update and republish scripts and images. - Communicate the Change: Notify your teams immediately to prevent nasty surprises when builds fail unexpectedly!
What’s Next?
The AzureEdge-to-Akamai migration is a glimpse of infrastructure challenges likely to arise more frequently in this decade. The growing interconnectedness of developer tools increases reliance on service providers, many of whom operate on razor-thin margins.Microsoft isn’t just updating domains—it’s rethinking its content distribution model altogether. While they’re partnering with Akamai and Azure Front Door to stabilize their future, the road to January and February 2025 might be bumpy.
For Windows enthusiasts and .NET developers alike, this is your chance to not just fix links but reinforce your software pipelines against future disruptions. Let’s call it a New Year's resolution for resilient coding!
Are you impacted by this migration? Are your CI/CD pipelines ready for the domain switch? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below! Let’s geek out together about what it means when cloud dependencies throw us curveballs.
Source: Techzine Europe Microsoft warns developers: ‘update .NET installation link’
