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• 09-18-2008, 4:42 PM

  merk Joined on 09-17-2002, 4:29 PM Pasadena, CA Posts 32

  suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact Hi all, I have one Win2k3 IIS6 server where i host several websites. Currently when ever i have to work on the sites I work on them live. bad practice i know but something that couldn't be avoided due to circumstances. Now i've set up a box at home with win2k8 iis7 on it. I would like to import all the sites on the iis6 server into iis7. I've downloaded the msdeploy tool but i havent tried using it yet. i need to find the instructions for migrating a whole server instead 1 site at a time. Anyhow, I'd like some suggestions as to how best to set up the development environment. I'm guessing to access each site from home i'd have to use something like http://win2k8/domain1/, http://win2k8/domain2/ etc etc I'm worried about doing that though because any site that uses / to represent the home page is going to go to http://win2k8/ instead of going to win2k8/domain1 Do i have to put each site on it's own port? i.e instead of win2k8/domain1 it would be win2k8:8001 ? So what do people suggest as best practice for setting up a box to serve as a home development server? thanks

  Tags: IIS 7iis 6win2k8development server

• 09-19-2008, 2:58 AM

  In reply to

  steve schofield Joined on 06-10-2002, 8:54 PM MI Posts 2,581

  Re: suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact I would setup a hosts files locally on your dev box and on your dev server a host-header for each of the site instead of using a specific port.    for using ms deploy, I would start here http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/346/microsoft-web-deployment-tool/ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/228760 Steve Schofield Windows Server MVP - IIS http://weblogs.asp.net/steveschofield http://www.IISLogs.com Log archival solution Install, Configure, Forget

• 09-19-2008, 3:26 PM

  In reply to

  merk Joined on 09-17-2002, 4:29 PM Pasadena, CA Posts 32

  Re: suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact Thanks Steve. After chatting with a few other people I'm going to give a try at setting up a domain controller and using that. Haven't had any experience setting up a DC before so it'll give me something new to play with. Oh and i did look at the page you linked to. But it describes moving one site at a time from ii6 to iis7 and I'm pretty sure i remember seeing a way you could just move all sites in one go. I have about 80 websites so if i could just move them all in one batch that would be ideal.

• 09-20-2008, 3:48 PM

  In reply to

  Rovastar Joined on 03-13-2008, 2:00 PM London, UK Posts 758

  Re: suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact  The msdeploy tool can move multiple sites. I see no real need for making your staging/dev server a DC.   For you orginal questions I would setup separate host headers on your dev machine. I have seen this done in many ways out in the feild. Often a  separate sub domain is the best way.  e.g. main site www.mysite.com Dev.mysite.com staging.mysite.com Most overused word in IT is 'should' as in 'That should work!?!'

• 09-20-2008, 10:19 PM

  In reply to

  steve schofield Joined on 06-10-2002, 8:54 PM MI Posts 2,581

  Re: suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact I agree with Rovastar about not setting up a DC for your dev server.  If you are going to have a DC, make it a separate server or VM box.  DC's have more locked down permissions and could cause unexpected results. For the sub-domains, create a wildcard record and you can have any sub-domain w/o having to manage DNS everytime.  Hope that helps. Steve Schofield Windows Server MVP - IIS http://weblogs.asp.net/steveschofield http://www.IISLogs.com Log archival solution Install, Configure, Forget

• 09-21-2008, 2:21 PM

  In reply to

  merk Joined on 09-17-2002, 4:29 PM Pasadena, CA Posts 32

  Re: suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact Hmm, the wild card domain is a good lazy way to do it :) The DC was also to serve the purpose of having a unified login structure at home. I have a few pc's at home and it's a PITA when ever i need to set up a share or something since i have to make sure there's a dummy login on the pc and then let everyone know what user/pass to use etc. The DC would eliminate that. I didnt know setting up the box as a DC could impact the websites, but i think i am going to try the DC route anyhow because i as i said I haven't worked with a DC before so i'd like to get some experience. And there's nothing on this box right now so worst case scenario i can just wipe and reinstall windows if the DC proves to be a problem. I might try the wild card domain as well since that's pretty simple to do.

• 09-22-2008, 5:55 AM

  In reply to

  steve schofield Joined on 06-10-2002, 8:54 PM MI Posts 2,581

  Re: suggestions for setting up a development server at home Reply Contact I ran a DC and a Dev server for a while and the only 'odd' thing you have to remember there are no local accounts.  The folder security is another item to be aware of including registry entries.  Filemon / Regmon can be your friend when detecting errors.  I've not run IIS 7 on a DC yet, so I have no experience to share.  IIS 6 is pretty doable.  Good luck, I will be curious to hear your experiences with a IIS 7 / w2k8. Steve Schofield Windows Server MVP - IIS http://weblogs.asp.net/steveschofield http://www.IISLogs.com Log archival solution Install, Configure, Forget