Upgrading an Azure Function Project from .NET Framework 4.8 to .NET 8

Upgrading an Azure Function Project from .NET Framework 4.8 to .NET 8

Upgrading your Azure Function project from .NET Framework 4.8 to .NET 8 can significantly enhance performance, security, and scalability. This blog will guide you through the steps required to upgrade your project, including necessary configurations on the Azure portal and deployment through Azure DevOps.

Prerequisites

• An existing Azure Function project running on .NET Framework 4.8.
• Visual Studio 2022 or later.
• Azure CLI installed.
• An active Azure subscription.
• Azure DevOps account.

Step 1: Update Your Local Project

1. Open your project in Visual Studio:

   • Open your existing Azure Function project in Visual Studio.

2. Update the Target Framework:

   • Right-click on the project in Solution Explorer and select "Properties".
   • Change the target framework to .NET 8.0 in the "Application" tab.

3. Update NuGet Packages:

   • Open the NuGet Package Manager and update all packages to their latest versions compatible with .NET 8.

4. Modify Code for Compatibility:

   • Review your code for any deprecated APIs or breaking changes introduced in .NET 8. Update your code accordingly.

5. Test Locally:

   • Run your project locally to ensure that it works as expected with .NET 8.

Step 2: Update Azure Function Configuration

1. Navigate to the Azure Portal:

   • Open the Azure portal and navigate to your Azure Function app.

2. Update the Runtime Version:

   • Go to the "Configuration" section under "Settings".
   • Select the "Function runtime settings" tab.
   • Set the Runtime version dropdown to ~4 to use the latest runtime version that supports .NET 8.

3. Update the .NET Version:

   • In the "Configuration" section, select the "General settings" tab.
   • Set the Platform to .NET 8 (Isolated).

4. Change the Hosting Environment:

   • Go to the "Environment variables" section under "Settings".
   • Select "App Settings" tab.
   • Add/update app setting:
     • Name: FUNCTIONS_WORKER_RUNTIME
     • Value: dotnet-isolated

5. Save and Restart:

   • Save the changes and restart your Azure Function app to apply the new settings.

This should ensure your Azure Function app is configured correctly to run on .NET 8 with the isolated process model.

Step 3: Deploy the Updated Project

1. Publish from Visual Studio:

   • Right-click on your project in Solution Explorer and select "Publish".
   • Choose your Azure Function app and follow the prompts to publish your updated project.

2. Verify Deployment:

   • Once the deployment is complete, navigate to your Azure Function app in the Azure portal.
   • Verify that the function app is running correctly with the new .NET 8 runtime.

Step 4: Set Up Continuous Deployment with Azure DevOps

1. Create a New Pipeline:

   • Sign in to your Azure DevOps organization and navigate to your project.
   • Go to the "Pipelines" section and click on "New pipeline".

2. Connect to Your Repository:

   • Select the repository where your Azure Function project is stored (e.g., GitHub, Azure Repos).

3. Configure the Pipeline:

   • Use the following YAML configuration to set up the build and deployment pipeline:

    trigger:
    - main
   
    pool:
      vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'
   
    steps:
    - task: UseDotNet@2
      inputs:
        packageType: 'sdk'
        version: '8.x'
        installationPath: $(Agent.ToolsDirectory)/dotnet
   
    - script: |
        dotnet build --configuration Release
      displayName: 'Build project'
   
    - task: AzureFunctionApp@2
      inputs:
        azureSubscription: '<Your Azure Subscription>'
        appType: 'functionApp'
        appName: '<Your Function App Name>'
        package: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/**/*.zip'
   

4. Save and Run the Pipeline:

   • Save the pipeline configuration and run the pipeline to build and deploy your Azure Function app.

5. Monitor the Pipeline:

   • Monitor the pipeline run to ensure that the build and deployment steps complete successfully.

Step 5: Monitor and Troubleshoot

1. Monitor Logs:

   • Use Application Insights or the built-in monitoring tools in the Azure portal to monitor the logs and ensure that your function app is running smoothly.

2. Troubleshoot Issues:

   • If you encounter any issues, use the "Diagnose and solve problems" tool in the Azure portal to identify and resolve them.

Sample Screenshots

Here are some sample screenshots to help you visualize the process:

• Updating the Target Framework in Visual Studio:

• Setting Application Settings in Azure Portal:

• Publishing from Visual Studio:

• Azure DevOps Pipeline Configuration:

By following these steps, you can successfully upgrade your Azure Function project from .NET Framework 4.8 to .NET 8, ensuring improved performance and support for the latest features.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the official Azure Functions documentation and migration guide.

Happy .NET upgrade coding!