Network Management

Always running feature for IIS websites

This article explains how to leverage a feature in IIS to allow application pools to be in an all time ready state. This may be ideal for high use websites or a load balanced many website deployment to minimize any delay in website cache response.

First published date

10/25/2018 2:06 AM

Last published date

9/29/2020 12:21 PM

Overview

This article provides steps to leverage a feature in IIS to allow application pools to be in an all time ready state. This may be ideal for high use websites or a load balanced many website deployment to minimize any delay in website cache response.

Environment 

  • .NET 4.X, IIS 7 deployments
  • Server 2008

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Resolution

How to enable the feature:

  1. Go to C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\config on the web server(s). If multiple web servers exist, you may want to enable on all.
  2. Open the applicationhost.config file in text editor such as Notepad.
  3. Find for the <applicationpools>, </applicationPools> sections of the file.
  4. Edit the line per the application pool you want to enable this feature for regarding the website it pertains to.
    For example:
    <add name="SolarWinds Orion Application Pool" autoStart="true" enable32BitAppOnWin64="true" managedRuntimeVersion="v4.0">
  5. Add startMode="AlwaysRunning" to the line.
    For example:
    <add name="SolarWinds Orion Application Pool" autoStart="true" enable32BitAppOnWin64="true" managedRuntimeVersion="v4.0" startMode="AlwaysRunning">
  6. Save the file.
  7. Website or IIS pool does not need to be restarted; however, you may prefer to do so.

Note: There may be other options on how to configure this. More on this feature can be found from Microsoft technet or click here for a blog post that may help.

Disclaimer: Please note, any content posted herein is provided as a suggestion or recommendation to you for your internal use. This is not part of the SolarWinds software or documentation that you purchased from SolarWinds, and the information set forth herein may come from third parties. Your organization should internally review and assess to what extent, if any, such custom scripts or recommendations will be incorporated into your environment.  You elect to use third party content at your own risk, and you will be solely responsible for the incorporation of the same, if any.