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Please fill out our support request form if you have any problems running BitRock MonoStack.

1. What is Mono?
2. What is MonoStack?
3. Is BitRock MonoStack free?
4. So, how do you make money?
5. Which operating systems do you support?
6. Why should I use BitRock MonoStack when I can download the components myself?
7. Do you make any proprietary changes to the open source software that you include?
8. How do I get started with BitRock MonoStack?
9. Who can help me if I am having problems?

What is Mono?

Mono is an open source project that makes it possible to develop and run .NET client and server applications on Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, Windows, and Unix. The Mono Project is sponsored by Novell, and is focused on providing software to allow UNIX developers to build and deploy cross-platform .NET applications.

What is MonoStack?

MonoStack is a pre-configured distribution of Apache, XSP and mod_mono that works with your existing Mono Runtime and allows you to easily run ASP.NET on Linux. The "stack" is packaged with a user-friendly installer built with BitRock InstallBuilder, so it can quickly be installed in GUI, text, or unattended mode. This will allow you to quickly install and run Mono, without having to build your own development environment. The goal of BitRock MonoStack is to provide an easy to use binary installer.

Is BitRock MonoStack free?

Yes! MonoStack only includes open source components and our distribution is freely available to anyone, for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, under the terms of the Apache License 2.0.

So, how do you make money?

Providing customization and installation support services. While MonoStack is a useful solution for many end users, ISVs and IT departments often require customized versions of our stack that include a range of open source tools and applications, plus their own code. For those clients, we build customized distributions and package them to provide a professional, user-friendly installation experience for end users.

Which platforms do you support?

Although the initial version of MonoStack is Linux-only, the goal of the BitRock MonoStack is to support the same versions of Linux, Solaris, Windows and Mac OS X that the Mono project does.

Why should I use BitRock MonoStack when I can download the components myself?

We spend a significant amount of time integrating and fine-tuning the components in Bitrock MonoStack so they are compiled, tested and configured for maximum performance, security, and an excellent out-of-the-box experience. This can save you hours of time downloading, configuring, and testing your own Mono development environment, especially if you are new to Linux and open source software.

Do you make any proprietary changes to the open source software that you include?

No, we do not. For maximum compatibility and stability, our software is based on official releases and is not altered in any way. We add value by compiling, integrating, configurating and testing the different components and presenting them in an easy to use package. Whenever possible, any bugfixes or improvements that we produce will be contributed back to the original projects.

How do I get started with BitRock MonoStack?

You can download the MonoStack installer and read the MonoStack documentation.

Who can help me if I am having problems?

We will soon be launching support forums to address any questions or problems others have with MonoStack. Until the forums are launched, please send an email to support@bitrock.com for problems with the installer. For Mono-related questions, please visit the Mono project website.