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Configure Application Isolation Modes

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

You can run Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 in one of two modes: worker process isolation mode or IIS 5.0 isolation mode. Worker process isolation mode is the default mode the Web server runs in after a clean installation of the Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 operating system. IIS 5.0 isolation mode is the default mode when you upgrade to IIS 6.0 from a previous version of IIS. Administrators should only run IIS in IIS 5.0 isolation mode when applications on the server are determined to be incompatible with worker process isolation mode.

Requirements

  • Credentials: Membership in the Administrators group on the local computer.

  • Tools: Iis.msc.

Recommendation

As a security best practice, log on to your computer using an account that is not in the Administrators group, and then use the Run as command to run IIS Manager as an administrator. At the command prompt, type runas /user:administrative_accountnamemmc %systemroot%\system32\inetsrv\iis.msc.

Procedures

Configuring IIS for Worker Process Isolation Mode

To complete the following procedure, you must restart IIS, which will temporarily interrupt the World Wide Web Publishing Service (WWW service).

To configure IIS for worker process isolation mode

  1. In IIS Manager, expand the local computer, right-click Web Sites, and then click Properties.

  2. Click the Service tab, clear the Run WWW service in IIS 5.0 isolation mode check box, and then click OK.

  3. To start the WWW service, click Yes when asked if you want to restart IIS now.

If the switch to worker process isolation mode is successful, a folder named Application Pools appears in the IIS Manager listing for your local computer. You can quickly determine which isolation mode IIS is running because the Application Pools folder is present in worker process isolation mode and absent in IIS 5.0 isolation mode.

Configuring IIS for IIS 5.0 Isolation Mode

After you complete the following procedure, you must restart the WWW service, which will temporarily interrupt the service.

To configure IIS for IIS 5.0 isolation mode

  1. In IIS Manager, expand the local computer, right-click Web Sites, and then click Properties.

  2. Click the Service tab, select the Run WWW service in IIS 5.0 isolation mode check box, and then click OK.

  3. To start the WWW Service, click Yes when asked if you want to restart IIS now.