getting to grips with .NET and all the MS

[cellweb]

Hello All,
Background - Im an IT contractor previously mainly doing networks and large scale system tool integrations etc . But that is all irrelevant now.
I want to know more about .NET and how to start playing with it.

Is there an equivalent of LAMP/WAMP I could setup on my PC ?
If I want to setup purely as a test an Access DB how easy or not is it to then put this on a web server and write a front to it ?.

I'm looking in terms of what tools I need (free or otherwise)
thanks in advance

[DotNetWebs]

This is all you need and it's all free:

http://www.microsoft.com/express/

I would advise that rather than using Access you should use SQL Server Express.

Regards

Dotty

[dave_n]

and learn c#...not that nasty vb.net rubbish!

[Astaroth]

LAMP = Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP

The equiv for .Net would be much less catchy as an acronym but is Windows, IIS, SQL Server and .Net

As Dotty says however you can download Visual Web Developer Express and this includes a test server replacing the need of IIS for development and SQL Server Express as a freeware version of SQL Server.

[Dwebs-Ltd]

and learn c#...not that nasty vb.net rubbish!

Totally agree I will never go back to vb if I can help it, all though still have tons of sites in classic asp and several vb apps :(

Only been doing .NET for the past couple of months only using visual web dev though does everything I need.

Would suggest anyone wanting to start with .NET has a read through http://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Your-ASP-NET-Site-Using/dp/0975240285/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229024092&sr=1-8 one of the best .NET books I've found.

[paul1664]

http://www.microsoft.com/web/channel/products/WebApplicationInstaller.aspx

...to get some great apps on which to build your business!

Paul.