Configure Web Application Development Settings (IIS 7)
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista
IIS 7 configuration is based on the existing .NET Framework configuration store, which lets you store IIS configuration settings alongside ASP.NET configuration settings in Web.config files. IIS 7 also offers compatibility with other technologies such as Active Server Pages (ASP), Common Gateway Interface (CGI), and Internet Server API (ISAPI). Most settings can be configured at the local level (Web.config) and also at the global level (ApplicationHost.config). Application development includes the following features:
Application Settings
ASP (classic)
CGI
Compilation
Database Connection Strings
E-mail
Globalization
ISAPI Filters
Machine Key
Pages and Controls
Profiles
Providers
Session State
Application Settings
Application settings are application-wide values that reside in a central location, and can be accessed from anywhere in your application.
For more information about how to configure application settings, see Configuring Application Settings in IIS 7.
ASP (classic)
IIS provides support for ASP page applications. You can either view the default settings or edit them as needed.
For more information about how to configure ASP page settings, see Edit ASP Settings (IIS 7).
CGI
IIS provides default settings for CGI. You can either view the default CGI settings or edit them as needed.
For more information about how to configure CGI settings, see Configuring CGI Settings in IIS 7.
Compilation
Managed code must first be compiled into one or more assemblies (.dll files) before it can be processed by IIS. When a request is made for a Web page that contains managed code, IIS sends it off to the compiler for processing before the page is sent on to the client. You can either use the default compilation settings or edit them as needed.
For more information about how to configure compilation settings, see Configuring .NET Compilation Settings in IIS 7.
Database Connection Strings
You can create a database connection string in IIS to store the information that an application uses to connect to your database.
For more information about how to configure database connection strings, see Configuring Connection Strings in IIS 7.
The IIS Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) service is the component used for delivering and receiving e-mail messages. E-mail messages can be delivered from a site immediately or they can be delivered to a file location on disk where they can be retrieved for delivery later. You can set which SMTP server to use, the delivery method, and the delivery location (if e-mail is being sent to a file location).
For more information about how to configure e-mail, see Configuring SMTP E-mail in IIS 7.
Globalization
Globalization is the process of designing and developing applications in such a way that applications can be used, with minimal modifications, in multiple languages and cultures. Globalization settings for your applications can be set in the IIS configuration.
For more information about how to configure globalization settings, see Configuring .NET Globalization Settings in IIS 7.
ISAPI Filters
ISAPI filters are .dll files that modify or enhance IIS functionality. ISAPI filters can be added to the IIS configuration.
For more information about how to configure ISAPI filters, see Configuring ISAPI Filters in IIS 7.
Machine Key
Machine keys help protect Forms authentication cookie data and page-level view state data. They also verify out-of-process session state identification. You can configure the encryption and decryption methods in addition to the validation and encryption keys.
For more information about how to configure machine keys, see Configuring Machine Keys in IIS 7.
Pages and Controls
This feature supports the global setting of certain ASP.NET page and control directives. Globally setting these directives will change all pages and controls in the scope of the configuration file.
For more information about how to configure pages and controls, see Configuring Pages and Controls in IIS 7.
Profiles
The profile feature lets developers define information that will be kept about each user visiting the site or application. To use this feature, add, edit, or delete user profiles.
For more information about how to configure user profiles, see Configuring .NET Profiles in IIS 7.
Providers
ASP.NET providers for membership users, roles, and profiles can be configured in IIS. You can configure these providers and select the default provider for these provider-based services.
For more information about how to configure providers, see Configuring Providers in IIS 7.
Session State
ASP.NET session state lets you store and retrieve values for a user as the user navigates the different ASP.NET pages that make up an application.