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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

PingCastle.exe Size Increase​

The file size has grown significantly across recent versions due to enhanced capabilities and runtime dependencies:

  • Version 3.3 - Approx 2MB - Original codebase
  • Version 3.4 - Approx 20MB - Includes Microsoft Graph API DLLs for Entra ID integration
  • Version 3.5 - Approx 250MB - Includes Microsoft Graph API DLLs plus embedded ASP.NET 8 Runtime

The version 3.5 size increase is due to the migration from .NET Framework 4.7.2 to ASP.NET 8 with native packaging. This change eliminates the need for custom packaging tools (Fody Costura) and allows PingCastle to run without requiring users to install ASP.NET 8 prerequisites on their systems, providing a better deployment experience.

pingcastle.exe.config File Location​

The configuration file format changed in version 3.5 due to the ASP.NET 8 upgrade. The appsettings.console.json file, which uses JSON format, replaces the legacy PingCastle.exe.config XML file.