System requirements for CMS

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Note

These system requirements apply to versions higher than 7.5 of Optimizely Content Management System (CMS). See Install updates to CMS. See requirements and deviations below for product and service-specific requirements.

Server requirements

Operating system

Any of the following:

• Microsoft Windows Server 2022
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019
• Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (End of support January 2022; Microsoft offers extended support options until January 2027)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until October 2023)
• All service packs are supported.

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Note

From CMS 9, Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows 7 are no longer supported.

Web server

• CMS 11 and lower: install any of the following as part of the Windows Server installation:
  • Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 10
  • Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 8.5

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Note

From CMS 9, IIS 7.0 and 7.5 are no longer supported.

Database

Any of the following:

• Microsoft Azure SQL

• Microsoft SQL Server 2019

• Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (End of support October 2022, Microsoft offering extended support options until October 2027)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (End of support, Microsoft offering extended support options until July 2026)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (End of support, Microsoft offering extended support options until July 2024)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (End of support, Microsoft offering extended support options until July 2022)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express (End of support, Microsoft offering extended support options until July 2022)

  All service packs are supported.

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Note

From update 163, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is no longer supported.

Other requirements

• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1 and higher (CMS 11 and lower)

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Note

After 2015, Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.0 and 4.5.1 are not supported. From CMS 11, 4.6.x is required.

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Note

In a production environment, an instance bound license is required for cloud-based solutions. For non-cloud environments, a permanent IP or MAC address is required.

Client requirements for EDITING

Browser for editing

• CMS 11 supports:
  • Mozilla Firefox, latest (b)
  • Google Chrome, latest (b)
• CMS 10 supports:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 (a)
  • Mozilla Firefox 22-57
  • Google Chrome 45-62
• CMS 9 supports:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 (a)
  • Mozilla Firefox 14-22
  • Google Chrome 33-45
• CMS 8 supports:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 (a)
  • Mozilla Firefox 11-14
  • Google Chrome 12-33

(a) For Commerce Manager, see product-specific requirements.
(b) Optimizely only supports the two latest versions for these due to fast release cycles.

Client requirements for Browsing

• Browser for viewing – The supported web browsers depend on the implementation. Most standard web browsers are generally supported.

Development and demonstration environment operating system

Any of the following:

• Mac OS
• Microsoft Windows 11
• Microsoft Windows 10
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until January 2023)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2022
• Microsoft Windows Server 2019
• Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (End of support January 2022; Microsoft offers extended support options until January 2027)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until October 2023)

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Note

From CMS 9, Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows 7 are no longer supported.

Development tool

• CMS 11 and lower, any of the following:
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2022
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2019

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Notes

• The Episerver Visual Studio integration installation requires IIS Express (included with VS 2015 and higher, can also be installed using Web Platform Installer).
• Always install the latest updates for Visual Studio.
• Visual Studio 2019 version 16.8 or higher is required for developing ASP.NET Core (CMS 12) applications.

Database

Any of the following:

• Microsoft Azure SQL
• Microsoft SQL Server 2019
• Microsoft SQL Server 2017 (End of support October 2022, Microsoft offers extended support options until October 2027)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until July 2026)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2014 (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until July 2024)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until July 2022)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express (End of support, Microsoft offers extended support options until July 2022)

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Notes

• The Episerver Visual Studio integration installation requires SQL Server Express (included with VS 2015 and 0 higher, and can also be installed using Web Platform Installer).
• From update 163, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is no longer supported.

Other requirements

• MVC 5.2.3 (for CMS 11)

Product-specific requirements and deviations

Optimizely Digital Experience Platform (DXP)

• See Requirements for Optimizely DXP.

Optimizely Customized Commerce

• For Commerce Manager (Optimizely Customized Commerce back-end, removed in Commerce 14), we recommend using Firefox or Chrome.
• ASP.NET WebForms support was dropped with version 12.1 for Commerce. Note: CMS 11.x will be the last generation of CMS with ASP.NET WebForms support.

Optimizely Forms

• Optimizely Forms is only supported by MVC-based websites and HTML5-compliant browsers.