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The definitive ASP tips page
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Note: this is my old ASP tips page and is no longer supported. See the new Visualize web site..

IIS/NT Tips - ASP Application SettingsIIS5/Windows 2000 tip

IIS5 gives you more scope when setting up web applications. In IIS4 you basically had a choice to either run a web application "in process" with inetinfo (IIS process) giving best performance, but at the risk of a "dodgy" application corrupting the IIS process itself. The alternative was to choose "run in separate memory space", which gave better robustness, but at the expense of poorer performance.

IIS5 introduces the term "isolation" levels, which provides better control over your web applications:

  • Low Isolation. As IIS4 "in process". Best performance, but at the expense of the possibility of a rogue application bringing the service down.
  • Medium. The default in IIS5, and is a new IIS5 only level. ASP processes share a single process space, but outside of IIS itself.
  • High. As IIS4 "out of process". Provides the best reliability, at the expense of some performance. Each web application has its own process space.

For average hit rate sites, the IIS5 default is probably the best. Changing a web app's level to "low" will give noticeable improvements on high hit rate sites.

 

DISCLAIMER: Note these pages are a free resource for anyone wishing to reference them. Although every care is taken to ensure their correctness, the author takes no responsibility for any errors or problems that may occur through their use, or indeed misuse. These pages are copyight of Dave Clarke, Visualize Software Ltd 1997-2000 (all rights reserved).

 


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