Creating Test and Production Sites with Only One IIS Server - Overview, Step 1
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Overview
OK, so here's an overview of the situation. I had one server, running Windows 2000 Server, running IIS 5.0 with the .NET framework installed. The application was written primarily in ASP, with a small amount of ASP.Net tossed in the mix. The database was MySQL. I determined that to have a true test environment separated from the production, I would need the following:
A complete copy of the application, including scripts, images, and security settings.
A completely separate but identically structured database.
The ability to connect to the application by the same means (web-browser, optional NT Authentication), but perhaps through a slightly different address.
Control over the code with some sort of versioning system. (optional, but a best-practice nonetheless)
I remembered that a single instance of IIS 5.0 installed on Windows 2000 Server – but not workstation – was capable of running multiple web sites concurrently. After discussing the options with a the network administrators, we determined that best route would be to run the second application, a.k.a. The Test Server, on another port. This was chosen as the best for several reasons: ease of setup, ease of administration, and the URL would be the same, just with a port number attached to the end. Has your appetite been whetted yet?
Step 1: Copy the FilesThis was probably the simplest of all the tasks. It involves two parts:
- deciding on the name of the copied directory
- copying the files
As wwwroot is more or less the standard for an applications root directory, I thought that wwwtest or wwwstage are some appropriate names. It's really not that critical though, so listen to your heart when choosing a name. Wow, now that's cheesy.
Anyhow, the second part of this step is as complicated as the first. Just copy all the files to the new directory. You don't have to worry about installing components or anything, because it's the same server, any components you have installed will work in both applications! Probably the only problem you could encounter here is if you're working on a file while trying to copy it. Make sure all IDEs and graphic editors are closed down, or at least make sure they don't have a hold on any of the files. There, that was simple. Now, on two step 2.
Next: Step 2: It Looks Like the Database, and Smells Like the Database >>
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