--- title: Install CMS 11 and Commerce Connect 13 slug: cms-11/dev-docs/installing-optimizely-legacy-cms-11-and-commerce-13 docTags: createdAt: 2026-07-22T19:45:18.981Z --- :::hint{type="info"} **Note** This topic applies to versions Optimizely Content Management System (CMS 11) or Optimizely Commerce Connect version 13 and earlier, which are based on ASP.NET Framework. For versions **CMS 12** and **Commerce Connect 14** and higher, based on ASP.NET Core, see [Install Optimizely](docId\:VuiU-K4aAR6ISGicFg4lk). ::: ## Prerequisites You can install the desired Optimizely products individually, with or without sample templates. It is useful if you want to explore each product and its components or build a site from scratch with more control. You can also use the **Optimizely Foundation** reference architecture to get a solution with multiple products up and running. Before installing, check the [System requirements for Optimizely](docId:70mYifjk1nj_UiJPdZ3uL) to ensure your installation environment has the required components and versions. The following components are needed to follow the instructions described here: - Use [Microsoft Visual Studio](http://www.visualstudio.com/) to install and update Optimizely. (Community, Professional, or Enterprise) - [Optimizely Visual Studio extension](https://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/4ad95160-e72f-4355-b53e-0994d2958d3e) is a full set of templates for MVC to get a jump-start when developing websites. To install the Optimizely extension: 1. In Visual Studio, select **Tools** > **Extensions and Updates**. 2. In the extensions window, select **Online**, and type *episerver* in the search box. 3. Select **CMS Visual Studio Extension** and click **Download** (or **Update** if installed). 4. Restart Visual Studio. - The **Optimizely NuGet feed source** ` added to your Visual Studio to add Optimizely Commerce Connect, Optimizely Search & Navigation, and other add-ons to your solution and upgrade your project with the latest. See [Install Optimizely updates (CMS 11 and Commerce 13)](docId\:WFO_QNcFVidcECSTZgehJ) on how to add the NuGet feed. - If your solution will be running in the cloud, follow the steps below to install the desired Optimizely components, and see [Cloud deployment](docId\:JkKYtt9dyKjTSGKZyJ6vb) how to deploy the solution to cloud environments. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** You can order a time-limited demo license for evaluation purposes—see [Optimizely License Center](https://license.episerver.com/) (a license is not required when using IIS Express). You need a commercial Optimizely license for testing and production environments. ::: ## Install through reference architecture The **Optimizely Foundation reference architecture** is an open-source option for installing an Optimizely solution with multiple products. Foundation offers a structured and modular starting point, allowing you to select products as projects to include or exclude from the solution. See Optimizely Foundation to learn how to install and get started. ## Install CMS Install a CMS website, empty or with the "Alloy" sample templates. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** The description below applies to Visual Studio 2019. The steps are similar in Visual Studio 2017 and 2015. See [Install Optimizely](https://episerver.wistia.com/medias/szbj83pm0f) for a video illustrating the procedure. ::: 1. Open Visual Studio and select **File** > **New** > **Project**. 2. Search for the **Episerver Web Site** project template, select it, and click **Next**. 3. Provide a name for your project and click **Create**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/-lyqEvVBihfpjv1MAudua-20260722-194630.png "configure-cms.png") 4. Select **Alloy** (MVC or WebForms) to create a site with sample content or **Empty** for a site without templates. You should use MVC for new projects because WebForms is deprecated. 5. Select a search option: - For an Alloy site, select **Episerver Find** to use Optimizely Search & Navigation or **Episerver Search** to use a basic search. - An empty site disables the **Configure Search** option and does not install the search. If desired, you can add Optimizely Search & Navigation or Episerver Search later. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/R3GTsmBE4LPy4HwglPS6W-20260722-194630.png "cmsinstall1.png") 6. Click **OK**. Visual Studio creates the project. When finalized, build and open the website in a browser. 7. Log in to the site: - For an **empty site**, add */episerver* to the site URL, and log in using your *Windows credentials.* For further information on configuring your empty project, see [Create a starter project](docId:1aC4YP98Zx7c_0BnQMdB5). - For **Alloy MVC**, you will be prompted to create an *administrator account* (the site is using [ASP.NET Identity](https://www.asp.net/identity/overview)). Provide the account credentials, click **Register**, and you will be logged in. See also [Install a sample site](docId\:NhghXxLS4Yd0f2K0aHJsC). - For **Alloy WebForms**, select the **Log in** link at the bottom of the start page, and log in using your *Windows credentials*. Note that you must be a local admin on the server you run Optimizely on. If not, create a local user with admin rights under **Control panel** > **Local Users and Groups**, and log in using that account. ## Install Optimizely Commerce Connect :::hint{type="info"} **Note** The description below applies to Visual Studio 2019. The steps are similar in Visual Studio 2017 and 2015. See [Install Optimizely Commerce Connect](https://episerver.wistia.com/medias/gjr2fvnnig) for a video illustrating the procedure. ::: ### Empty Commerce site These steps install an *empty* website locally with CMS and Optimizely Commerce Connect. Note that a Commerce installation has *two* sites: a front-end site with CMS and Optimizely Commerce Connect and a back-end site with Commerce Manager. - To create a sample site locally with templates, see [Install Quicksilver](/epiui/CMS/Content/documentation/installing-episerver/installing-quicksilver,,192358/?epieditmode=False). - To deploy an Optimizely Commerce Connect site to the cloud, see [Install an Optimizely Commerce site to run on Azure Web Sites](docId\:dVqY2v8nJaW5MJopiu8Xq). ### Part 1: Create the front-end site with CMS 1. Open Visual Studio and select **File** > **New** > **Project**. 2. Search for the **Episerver Web Site** project template, select it, and click **Next**. 3. Provide a name for your project, and set the .NET Framework to **4.6.1** or higher. 4. Click **Create**. 5. In the **Select a template** dialog, select **Empty** and click **OK**. Visual Studio creates the project. ### Part 2: Install Optimizely Commerce Connect components on the front-end site 1. In **Solution Explorer** (CTRL + ALT + L), expand the project you just created, right-click on **References**, and select **Manage NuGet Packages**. 2. In the **Package source** dropdown, select **Episerver**. 3. Click **Browse** and enter *Commerce* in the search field. 4. Select the `EPiServer.Commerce` (main) package and click **Install**. 5. When the installation completes, a `Readme.txt` file displays. 6. Close the `Readme.txt` file, select `EPiServer.Commerce.UI.ManagerIntegration` and click **Install**, which adds the Commerce front-end components. 7. When the installation completes, a `Readme.txt` file displays. ### Part 3: Create the back-end site 1. In the **Solution Explorer**, right-click the solution you created in part 1 and select **Add > New Project**. 2. Select **ASP.NET Web Application (.NET Framework)** as the project type and click **Next**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/iRewKru4iYckZXK9iQFfk-20260722-194630.png "installcommerce1.png") 3. Give the project a name and click **Create**. 4. Select **Empty** and click **Create**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/KrMCwrN3patbc8oGlBC75-20260722-194630.png "installcommerce3.png") ### Part 4: Install Commerce Manager on the back-end site 1. Right-click on the back-end site you created in [part 3](docId\:JkKYtt9dyKjTSGKZyJ6vb) and select **Manage NuGet Packages**. 2. In the **Package source** dropdown, select **Episerver**. 3. Click **Browse** and enter *Commerce* in the search field. 4. Select the `EPiServer.CommerceManager` package and click **Install**. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/LYVMvbnqX-vQN3R3eGeNU-20260722-194630.png "installcommercemgr.png") 5. When installation completes, a `Readme.txt` file displays. 6. Close the `Readme.txt` file and select the `EPiServer.ServiceLocation.StructureMap` package and click **Install**, which adds an implementation of the ServiceLocation / Dependency Injection framework. ### Part 5: Final steps 1. Update the database. a. Go to **Tools** > **NuGet Package Manager** > **Package Manager Console**. b. At **PM**, enter `update-epidatabase`. 2. Build the solution (CTRL + SHIFT + B). 3. Start the front-end site (Ctrl + F5). 4. When prompted, log in using the default credentials *admin/store* (remember to change these later). 5. If you see a page of migration steps, click **Execute all pending steps**. 6. Verify that you can access the edit and admin views using `http://localhost:nnnnn/episerver` (where nnnnn is the port number already displayed in the URL). If you have difficulty accessing Commerce Manager from edit view: 1. Right-click your back-end site with the Commerce Manager project in Visual Studio. 2. Select **Set as StartUp Project**. 3. Start the Commerce Manager site and log in. 4. Make the front-end project the start-up project again. To further set up your Commerce Connect project, continue with the project structure section on [Create your project](docId\:V1CoMNWPGKW9f7YcLf8_v). ## Install Optimizely Search & Navigation Optimizely Search & Navigation consists of a service you sign up for and client packages you install on your site. See [Create your project](/epiui/CMS/Content/documentation/developer-guides/search-navigation/getting-started/creating-your-project,,120606/?epieditmode=False) for instructions on how to add Search & Navigation to your solution. ### Integrate Optimizely Search & Navigation with Commerce This integration adds Commerce-specific functionality when using Optimizely Search & Navigation with Optimizely Commerce. To install this on your website, run the Search & Navigation content indexing job on the site *after* the `EPiServer.Find.Commerce` package is installed. ## Install tracking and personalization The Optimizely Personalization product suite adds personalized content and, product recommendations, and personalized search results to the site. Tracking and personalization components are based on services you sign up for and client packages you install on the site. See the following how to install and get started: - [Optimizely Content Recommendations](docId\:yPbxrI9NeST-slfxGNwS8) - [Optimizely Tracking](docId\:cYxyuI-Kj1-xzGYDwBKhi) ## Install Marketing Automation components The Marketing Automation product suite includes Optimizely Campaign for cross-channel automated campaign management and many marketing automation connectors for popular marketing tools like Delivra, Salesforce, and Microsoft Dynamics. Marketing automation components are based on services you sign up for and client packages you install on the site. See the following how to install and get started: - Optimizely Campaign - Optimizely Marketing Automation connectors ## Install other apps You can extend Optimizely through applications (apps, also known as add-ons) that are available for a wide selection of areas, such as analytics, search optimization, and marketing automation. You install most apps as NuGet packages; see [Optimizely add-ons](docId\:EKO5aFKrSjsNR6Mgr7hQf) and [Install add-ons](docId\:Rs_bIqf-JozSw3KjyxgQJ). If your solution is using the Optimizely Digital Experience Platform cloud services, see [DXP Requirements](docId\:EbFCNo6K0wQHK--V4b_tz) for supported apps. ## Cloud deployment There are different options for managing and deploying Optimizely solutions in the cloud. Before deploying, ensure that you have followed the [requirements](docId\:EbFCNo6K0wQHK--V4b_tz) and [recommendations](docId\:VExYp0KJ04hzrkR0SVPWp) to optimize your solution for cloud-based environments. - [Deploy with Optimizely DXP cloud services](docId\:KiD2UHYvZbbOKUp6LQaM1) - [Deploy CMS to Azure Web Apps](docId\:tJc002bptLJOuFu0CwvsW) - [Deploy Commerce to Azure Web Apps](docId\:dVqY2v8nJaW5MJopiu8Xq)