File Sharing using IIS

[nikhil500]

I have a server running Windows Server 2003 and I use it to share files over HTTP.

I have set up virtual folders in IIS and users can browse and download files.

However, I have two problems:

1. Some files give a 404 error. I have noticed that this is specially the case with .iso files. I guess there is some filter which blocks/allows certain file extensions. Could somebody tell me how to disable the 'filter' so that the users can download any and every file irrespective of file extension.

2. The file listing looks pretty unattractive. Somebody suggested I use Apache with a fancy replacement for mod_autoindex. I would like to stick with IIS only. Any way I can get a good-looking listing of files in a folder, possibly with proper icons and all.

[Pilsbury]

1) Click Start and select Programs, Administrative Tools, Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager, expand the Web Sites branch, right-click the Web site for which you want to enable download of files, and select Properties, select the HTTP Headers tab and click MIME Types.

Click New. You'll see the MIME Type dialog box, in the Extension text box, enter the extensions you want to allow. In the MIME type text box, type:

application/octet-stream

and click OK three times to return out. Restart IIS

2) You could learn ASP or ASP.Net, a file listing is pretty easy to do, and I'm sure there are samples about in places like www.asp.net.

[nikhil500]

Thanks, I'll try it out.

I do know ASP.net but was wondering if there is a ready-made solution available. I guess I'll have to take time out to write and test some code.