.NET Core 2.1 is officially scheduled to reach end of life on August 21, 2021

• Official Statement: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core

Using this Issue to track planned changes.

• Remove this framework from all projects

• Remove this framework from all build definitions

• Individual package references should be replaced with framework references wherever possible. (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/target-aspnetcore?view=aspnetcore-5.0&tabs=visual-studio)

  • WindowsServer.Tests.csproj:
    AzureInstanceMetadataEndToEndTests depends on AzureInstanceMetadataServiceMock which creates an in-proc server to handle HTTP requests.
    This is being addressed in a separate issue AzureInstanceMetadata: replace tests #2357
  • Microsoft.ApplicationInsights.AspNetCore.Tests.csproj
    See also: https://weblog.west-wind.com/posts/2020/Feb/26/Working-with-IWebHostEnvironment-and-IHostingEnvironment-in-dual-targeted-NET-Core-Projects

  'IHostingEnvironment' is obsolete: 'This type is obsolete and will be removed in a future version.
  The recommended alternative is Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.IWebHostEnvironment.'

• Consolidate extra dependencies in AspNetCore taken to address security issue: Component Governance: Need to upgrade dependencies. (CVE-2020-1045) (CVE-2021-26701) #2199 [SDL] update packages #2243

• Verify all projects have test coverage for all supported versions of dotnet.
  This is being addressed in a separate issue Test Coverage #2379

• Update changelog