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Thread: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

Last post 05-27-2008 4:42 PM by tomkmvp. 16 replies.

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  • 05-08-2008, 3:45 PM

    • lamp90
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    Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    Not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but here it goes:

    The default installation folder for IIS is c:\inetpub.  The installation does not allow any obvious way to change that default to something else, such as d:\inetpub.

    C: is always the system volume, and with production servers we like to create two volumes (C and D) and install applications and data on D as much as possible for a whole number of reasons.

    How can one change this default root folder after installing IIS?  Other than hacking the registry (and probably AD while at it), I do not know of any way (MS-supported, that is=safe, reliable) to do it, but don't want to end up with massive amounts of data sitting on C: if it can be avoided.

    Help would be greatly appreciated.
     

    LAM
    Unstated assumptions are the devil's workshop.
  • 05-08-2008, 4:18 PM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    lamp90:
    How can one change this default root folder after installing IIS?
    No registry hacking necessary at all - just change it!  I always change my root to D:\inetpub\wwwroot.

  • 05-09-2008, 3:25 PM In reply to

    • lamp90
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

     OK, thanks, but could you elaborate?

     You make it sound like all I have to do is to move the folder itself and IIS will magically know I did that and adjust itself accordingly.

      Also, I need to move not just wwwroot, but the whole c:\inetpub, as I have an application that requires the SMTP server that IIS provides.  (Specially) that folder needs to be moved.

      Will try it out by moving the folder, as you seem to suggest and post accordingly.
     

    LAM
    Unstated assumptions are the devil's workshop.
  • 05-09-2008, 3:39 PM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    No - you can't just move it.  You have to recreate the folders and then go into the IIS MMC and set the web root to the new path.  Same for SMTP.

  • 05-11-2008, 2:56 AM In reply to

    • lamp90
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

     Hi,

    After playing a bit with it, I can now refine my question:

    How can I move the DEFAULT SMTP or WWW sites?  Yes, I can create custom ones, and in the process I can set their folders.  Once that is done, however, I cannot delete the default ones, and neither can I move their folders.  The MMC does not allow either.

    I feel that moving or deleting the default services is needed to prevent my C: volume to fill up with data.  If I cannot do either, what can I do, then?

     Thanks for your patience.
     

    LAM
    Unstated assumptions are the devil's workshop.
  • 05-12-2008, 9:21 AM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    lamp90:
    I cannot delete the default ones, and neither can I move their folders.  The MMC does not allow either.
    Why?  I do this all of the time with all o fmy servers.  What's the issue?  SImply change all references from C: to another drive.  Use can use the Metabase explorer to make sure all paths are changed:
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=56FC92EE-A71A-4C73-B628-ADE629C89499&displaylang=en

  • 05-23-2008, 11:13 AM In reply to

    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    Hi,

    I'm having a similar issue with using a different folder for the web sites. In my case, we have the issue where the web site will complete creation successfully, but the Local Path field is displayed as an editable path rather than disabled and containing the \<server> designator.

    Because of this we do not properly redirect to our LDAP server. I installed the Metabase Explorer but couldn't find a field to change the default IIS directory. Also, can we use any folder name or does it have to be inetpub\wwwroot?

  • 05-23-2008, 1:25 PM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    The physical place you put your files is completely arbitrary.  See my response to your original post ...
    http://forums.iis.net/p/1149496/1870145.aspx#1870145

  • 05-24-2008, 12:56 PM In reply to

    • lamp90
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    Hi, ChristianHowell.  I noticed that the reply to your question has a reference that you had a similar question in another forum thread.

    Yeah, just keep changing forums and ask the same or similar question. Maybe that way you can find someone else that will give you an actionable answer, that is, one that is applicable to IIS 6.0 "out of the box" and that you (and we) can actually use.


    LAM
    Unstated assumptions are the devil's workshop.
  • 05-24-2008, 8:36 PM In reply to

    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    It's just that what was offered didn't really tell me how to do it, as in go here and change this setting. I "inherited" this application and I am used to VS2005 and using the inetpub directory.

    This is in VS2003. Hopefully our server team knows how it works.

  • 05-27-2008, 1:25 PM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    I'd really like to help you guys but I'm really having a hard time understanding what your issues are.  It's really simple to run content from whatever directory you like.  None of my servers use the default C:\inetpub\wwwroot location.

    lamp90 - why can't you create say "D:\webroot", right-click on the Default Web Site and bring up properties, click the Home Directory tab, make sure the radio button "A directory located on this computer" is selected, and enter this path into the "local path" text box?

  • 05-27-2008, 1:36 PM In reply to

    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    With this application, if the Local Path in the Home Directory tab is a path: "D:\Folder\App", our redirect doesn't work. If the Local Path is a designator: "\App", our redirect does work. When we create the site and point to the folder, it doesn't add the designator.

     In order to change the VS publish location, I need the VS Developers group on the server. That usually means installing VS. I can't do that.

     
    Let me ask, for your sites on the D: drive, do you see an editable path in the Local Path field or is the field disabled with the site name?
     

  • 05-27-2008, 2:12 PM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    ChristianHowell:
    With this application, if the Local Path in the Home Directory tab is a path: "D:\Folder\App", our redirect doesn't work. If the Local Path is a designator: "\App", our redirect does work. When we create the site and point to the folder, it doesn't add the designator.
    What do you mean by "redirect"?  How are you doing that exactly?  FWIW the local path text box expects a fully qualified local drive path.

    ChristianHowell:
    In order to change the VS publish location, I need the VS Developers group on the server. That usually means installing VS. I can't do that.
    Not sure what you mean by that.  You can always manually create groups.

    ChristianHowell:
    Let me ask, for your sites on the D: drive, do you see an editable path in the Local Path field or is the field disabled with the site name?
    Yes, it is all editable.  Are you accessing with an account that has local admin rights?

    Just re-reading your OP - what URL do you want to go to for this application? 

  • 05-27-2008, 2:22 PM In reply to

    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    TMhen I guess I'm not doing something. As I said, we have three instances of the website. One instance the local path is disabled and displays "\Development". This site redirects to our authentication website. The other two local path instances are not disabled and display "D:\Folder\App". These do not redirect to our authentication site. When new users access the site they don't have a cookie and are redirected. That mechanism is not in our code.

    They are all created the same way, so if I can figure why one works, I  can apply that to the other instances. 

     

    Yes I am an Admin on the box. 

  • 05-27-2008, 3:40 PM In reply to

    • tomkmvp
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    Re: Change default installation folder c:\inetpub to another volume

    ChristianHowell:
    One instance the local path is disabled and displays "\Development".
    Very strange.  I have no idea how that can even be setup like that.

    Can you just delete this "bad" site and create a new one with the correct path/settings?

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