WIN2008 application of the ISAPI filter configuration in IIS 7

The Internet Server Application Programming Interface (ISAPI) filter is a program that can be added to IIS to enhance the behavior of WEB servers. The ISAPI filter receives each HTTP request to the WEB server and provides additional functionality to the server, such as logging request information, authenticating and authorizing users, overwriting URLs, and compressing Web content to reduce bandwidth costs.

In IIS 7.0, the module replaces the ISAPI filter, but if you need the functionality provided by the ISAPI filter, you can also add the appropriate filter.

(i) Add an ISAPI filter

To enhance the functionality of your WEB server, you can add ISAPI filters. For example, you can set up an ISAPI filter to capture information about an HTTP request and save that information in a database.

Note: Although IIS 7.0 supports ISAPI filters, it is recommended that you extend the functionality of your WEB server using modules rather than ISAPI filters.

The following steps are implemented:

1. Open IIS Manager, and then navigate to the level you want to manage.

2. On the "Server home page" or "Site home page" of the feature view, double-click ISAPI Filter.

3. On the ISAPI Filters page, in the Actions pane, click Add.

4. In the Add ISAPI Filter dialog box, do the following:

? In the Filter Name box, type a friendly name for the ISAPI filter.

? In the executable box, type the file system path where the ISAPI filter file is located, or click the browse button (...) to navigate to the folder where the ISAPI filter file resides.

5. Click OK.

(ii) Editing ISAPI filters

If you need to change the path of an ISAPI filter's executable file, you can edit the ISAPI filter. The implementation steps are as follows:

1. Open IIS Manager, and then navigate to the level you want to manage.

2. On the "Server home page" or "Site home page" of the feature view, double-click ISAPI Filter.

3. On the ISAPI filters page, select the ISAPI filter that you want to change.

4. In the Actions pane, click Edit.

Note: You can only edit an ISAPI filter with the entry type "local".

5. In the Edit ISAPI Filter dialog box, change the path to the executable file, and then click OK.

(iii) renaming an ISAPI filter

If you need to change the name of an ISAPI filter (for example, to better describe the purpose of the filter), rename the filter. The implementation steps are as follows:

1. Open IIS Manager, and then navigate to the level you want to manage.

2. On the "Server home page" or "Site home page" of the feature view, double-click ISAPI Filter.

3. On the ISAPI filters page, select the ISAPI filter that you want to rename.

4. In the actions pane, click Rename.

Note: You can only rename an ISAPI filter with the entry type "local".

5. Type a new name for the ISAPI filter, and then click outside the box.

(iv) Delete ISAPI filters

If you no longer need the functionality provided by an ISAPI filter, you can delete the filter. For example, if you have a module that performs the same function as an ISAPI filter, you may decide to remove the filter from the WEB server.

1. Open IIS Manager, and then navigate to the level you want to manage.

2. On the "Server home page" or "Site home page" of the feature view, double-click ISAPI Filter.

3. On the ISAPI filters page, select the ISAPI filter that you want to delete.

4. In the actions pane, click Delete, and then click Yes.

Note: Only ISAPI filters with the entry type "local" can be deleted.