Overview of ASP.NET Web Applications
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1
A Microsoft ASP.NET application is defined as all the files and executable code that can be invoked from a virtual directory and its subdirectories on a Web server. These can include Web pages (.html files), Web Forms pages (.aspx files), Web Forms user controls (.ascx files), XML Web Services (.asmx files), HTTP handlers, HTTP modules, and other files (such as image and configuration files). Any script maps that are associated with the version of the Microsoft .NET Framework that you are using are also a part of an ASP.NET application.
If an ASP.NET application has been developed using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, a project DLL is stored in the \Bin directory under the application's root directory. Any other DLLs that provide functionality that the application uses, whether it has been developed using Visual Studio or not, must reside in the \Bin directory as well. These can include compiled ASP.NET custom server controls, business logic, and database access logic.
The relationship between an ASP.NET application and Internet Information Services (IIS) is this: IIS serves all requests for publishable ASP.NET files through aspnet_isapi.dll (the process model for ASP.NET). IIS does not process the server-side code; the ASP.NET engine does that and then returns the output to IIS (or another Web server, possibly) to be served from that software.
This section includes the following information
Layout of ASP.NET Web Applications: Describes the guidelines for creating a file structure for an ASP.NET application.
Viewing the ASP.NET Version: Describes how to determine which version of the .NET Framework, and ASP.NET, an application is using.