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| IIS 7's redesigned management console (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
So why doesn't the web application run right away?
Here's my application structure:
The simple web application I created used bootstrap and CSS, and some jQuery and Javascript functions. It uses some database tables running in MSSQL Express. Now if I remember, I have set up my MSSQL Express to run on mixed authentication mode.
I checked my connectionstring values, and everything seems to be in place. In fact, I am able to perform web application deployment smoothly. Only that I get into an error when I click on a page that accesses the database. Even just querying data and no transactions yet.
I asked a fellow developer, and I was told to add in a logger. That is to help me identify what wrong thing could be happening that isn't normally seen or shown.
But I didn't do that. I am already so close and getting impatient. All static pages working, and only those dependent on the database have issues. I was near to pulling my hair!
But my patience took the better of me. I continued searching, and I found some more articles, randomly, which I tried one by one.
That fixed the issue, and I was able to run the web application if full spectrum.
Here's what I have done, and hopefully, it would help others, too.
1. The usual web application deployment methods, but in my case, File System.
2. In particular, I get HTTP Error 401.3 - Unauthorized: Access is denied due to an ACL set on the requested resource.
Now remember, MSSQL Server was set up using mixed authentication mode, so I have sa account and also Windows account. The latter is the key. Windows account is not authorized, so database access fails.
What's the fix?
Open up IIS Manager (type 'inetmgr' in Cortana/search box).
Open up Sites, then click on the Web Site you are fixing.
In the middle pane, under IIS section, double-click on Authentication.
Right click on Anonymous Authentication, then select Edit.
Instead of Application pool identity, select now Specific user and specify IUSR (or IIS_IUSR).
(In some cases, selecting Application pool identity would do the trick.)
Click on Set and enter the credentials, if needed.
Then OK.
Now go back to the folder where the web site is deployed and give proper priveleges for the IUSR account. For my case, that is what fixed the problem. So I'm logging this discovery via my blog.
Anyway, if this doesn't work, it is 99.99% an issue of the account being used to access the database that is the cause, so just play around these settings. So much so if all static pages already work.
Hope it helps others, too.
Till then!
