17
Wed, Apr
5 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Programming
  4. Programming - Other
  5. Microsoft
  6. TechTip: IIS 6.0 Best Practices to Improve Performance of ASP.NET Applications

TechTip: IIS 6.0 Best Practices to Improve Performance of ASP.NET Applications

Microsoft
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Leverage IIS 6.0's built-in features, including MetaBase auditing, file expiration, HTTP compression, and more.

 

Internet Information Services (IIS) is a flexible, scalable, easy to use and manage Web server that can be used to host your Web sites and run applications on the Web seamlessly.

 

Wikipedia states, "Internet Information Services (IIS) - formerly called Internet Information Server - is a set of Internet-based services for servers created by Microsoft for use with Microsoft Windows. It is the world's second most popular Web server in terms of overall websites behind the industry leader Apache HTTP Server. As of April 2009, it served 29.27% of all websites according to Netcraft. The services provided currently include FTP, FTPS, SMTP, NNTP, and HTTP/HTTPS."

 

Web sites deployed on IIS 6.0 execute on separate worker processes and threads. These are not only independent of each other, but also independent of the IIS WWW Service process. Note that the WWW service is one of the most important services in IIS. It reads information from the IIS Admin service at the time when it starts. 

This isolation makes IIS 6.0 much more stable than any previous versions of IIS.

How Do I Get IIS 6.0?

IIS 6.0 is tightly integrated with the Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 offers better reliability, robust security, easier manageability, and improved performance and scalability compared to its earlier counterparts. You can download a copy of the IIS 6.0 Resource Kit here.

Managing IIS: Tips and Techniques

You can enable HTTP compression in IIS 6.0 using the IIS snap-in. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the IIS snap-in.
  2. Right-click on the Web sites node and then click on Properties.
  3. Switch to the Services tab.
  4. Enable the options to "Compress Static Files" and "Compress Application Files."

 

You can also enable compression by using the following statements at the command line:

 

cscript C:InetpubAdminScriptsadsutil.vbs set w3svc/site#/root/DoStaticCompression True

 

cscript C:InetpubAdminScriptsadsutil.vbs set w3svc/site#/root/DoDynamicCompression True

 

You just need to replace the site# with the site ID you would like to change.

 

To enable centralized logging, you may use this statement:

 

cscript adsutil.vbs set w3svc/CentralW3CLoggingEnabled 1

 

If you would like to enable IIS MetaBase auditing, use this statement at the command prompt:

 

cscript iiscnfg.vbs /enableaudit / /r

 

Note that before you make any changes to the IIS MetaBase, you can take a backup of it. To create a backup of the IIS 6.0 MetaBase, open the IIS snap-in and then select All Tasks > Backup/Restore Configuration. The remaining steps are simple. The IIS MetaBase is present in the file called MetaBase.xml in your WINDOWSsystem32inetsrv directory in your system. You can take a look at this article for information on how to take IIS 6.0 MetaBase backup: http://www.visualwin.com/IIS-Backup/

Best Practices

Here is a list of some other best practices that you can follow to improve the performance of applications deployed on IIS 6.0:

  • File Expiration Policy—Set the file expiration dates for files to considerably reduce subsequent access load times.
  • HTTP Compression—Enable HTTP compression in IIS to compress the content to be rendered and hence increase the efficiency of bandwidth usage.
  • Optimize the Load Time—Remove redundant tags, reduce scripts and arrays, avoid using nested tables, consolidate multiple scripts into a single file, consolidate multiple images into a single file, and pre-load images to reduce the initial load time of Web pages in your application. You can also pre-compile your Web sites before they are deployed in IIS to boost the application's performance.
  • Performance Counters—Measure performance using Performance Counters for IIS 6.0. Performance Counters are objects that collect information related to the system's and the application's performance.
  • Application Pools—Improve the application performance by using separate application pools for your application. Application pools are self-contained processes that can communicate with the kernel of the host operating system. These can be used to isolate ASP.NET Web applications, thereby increasing the security and performance of ASP.NET Web applications deployed on top of IIS.
  • Efficient Code—Write code that consumes less memory and resources. There are lots of strategies in this regard. You can check an article I wrote for more information.

 

You can also test the load time of the Web pages of your application by using network bandwidth measuring tools like network monitors, load simulators, etc. This will give you an idea of how much time is being spent to load a particular Web page in your application. Accordingly, you can take steps to reduce the load time of pages that are frequently used but take a longer time to load. Actually, there isn't any particular rule or methodology that fits every scenario. You should plan and set some objectives and then check whether your development cycle conforms to the objectives and standards you set.

Suggested Readings

Here are links to some good references on this topic for further study:

 

 

Summary

In this article, we have examined some of the best practices that can be followed to improve application performance of applications that are deployed in IIS. You can find out more about how to efficiently enhance application performance of ASP.NET applications in my latest book, ASP.NET 4.0 Programming (McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media).

Joydip Kanjilal

Joydip Kanjilal is a Principal Software Engineer in Hyderabad, India.

Read my blog

Awarded the prestigious Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award in ASP.NET six times in a row from the year 2007 to 2012. A speaker and author of several books and articles with over 18 years of industry experience in IT and more than 14 years in Microsoft .NET and its related technologies.

Currently working as a Principal Software Engineer at DELL International Services at Hyderabad. Was selected as an MSDN Featured Developer of the Fortnight (MSDN) a number of times and also Community Credit Winner at www.community-credit.com several times.

Authored the following books:

·  Entity Framework Tutorial (Second Edition) by Packt Publishing

·  ASP.NET Web API: Build RESTful Web Applications and Services on the .NET Framework by Packt Publishing

·  Visual Studio 2010 and .NET 4 Six-in-One by Wrox Publishers

·  ASP.NET 4.0 Programming by McGraw Hill Publishing

·  Entity Framework Tutorial by Packt Publishing

·  Pro Sync Framework by APRESS

·  Sams Teach Yourself ASP.NET AJAX in 24 Hours by Sams Publishing

·  ASP.NET Data Presentation Controls Essentials by Packt Publishing

Also reviewed more than 10 books and authored more than 350 articles for some of the most reputable sites, such as www.msdn.microsoft.com, www.code-magazine.com, www.asptoday.com, www.devx.com, www.ddj.com, www.aspalliance.com, www.aspnetpro.com, www.sql-server-performance.com, www.sswug.com, and so on.

Has years of experience in designing and architecting solutions for various domains. His technical strengths include C, C++, VC++, Java, C#, Microsoft .NET, AJAX, WCF, JQuery, ASP.NET Web API, REST, SOA, Design Patterns, SQL Server, Operating Systems, and Computer Architecture. Has been exploring Cloud technologies, IoT and Machine learning these days.

Blog: http://www.infoworld.com/blog/microsoft-coder

Website: www.joydipkanjilal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joydipkanjilal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joydipkanjilal

LinkedIn: http://in.linkedin.com/in/joydipkanjilal

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$0.00 Raised:
$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: