Unable to access virtual directory files

[msdnexpert]

Dear all,
I have created a virtual directory on my web site which maps to a directory on a remote machine. The virtual directory is created successful and I can browse it in the MMC console. However when I try to check for the existence of a file in the virtual directory (through ASP code using FileSystemObjects FileExists method) I get an error that the file does not exist even though the file exists. The access permissions have been set correctly. Is there any other setting to be made or are there some additional settings for a virtual directory. However if the virtual directory maps to a directory on the local machine everything works fine. Any solutions. Thanks in advance.

[Ianpbaker]

Hi msdnxpert

How are you trying to access the folder in the script. If you are trying ti use the virtual folder name it wont work (ie. CoolStuff/mydoc.txt). You need to share the folder and use the relative path instead (ie. \\MyBox\Coolstuff\mydoc.txt )

Hope this helps

Ian

[msdnexpert]

Hi Ian,
Well I am using the fully qualified file name to access it i.e \\Sun\Trapeze\ASP.doc.
When one configures a virtual directory over a network on has to specify the network user authentication. Also there is directory security setting for a virtual dirctory. I am using anonymous authentication for directory security with password synchronization i.e IUSR_<machine_name>. But the network authentication user that I am using is not IUSR_<machine_name>. Does this make any difference.

[Ianpbaker]

if your using anonymous authentiation, as in the user doesn't need to log on to your site through NT security, then as long as IUSR account has the apropiate access to the folder, I can't see there beeing a problem. But if your using a different NT account to log on, you will need to give all accounts that need to access that folder the specofoc rights that they need

Ian

[msdnexpert]

Well Ian even that will not work. It seems that there are indeed issues if your Virtual Directory maps to a network share. There are a whole lot of settings to be done as is given in this Knowledge base article.
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q197/9/64.ASP

Besides also check these out
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q189/4/08.ASP
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q178/3/91.ASP
Also the IIS Security "What If" Tool is a must see
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q229/6/94.ASP

I guess there will be more and more of security and authentication issues in IIS. No wonder people crib such a lot with IIS.