virtual paths location

what is a virtual path in relation to a web site? for someone new to web apps? what is stored within a sites "virtual path". many of them are just named "/"

And also - what is the risk in storing virtual paths specific to web apps on the system drive on a web server running windows 2008 R2 and IIS? where should you store them if not the system drive?
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pma111Asked:
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Dan McFaddenSystems EngineerCommented:
By "virtual path", do you mean a Virtual Directory?

All a Virtual Directory is, is a folder/file structure that resides outside of the main folder/file structure of the parent website.  For example, under default IIS settings:

the Default Web Site has a physical path of:  %SystemDrive%\inetpub\wwwroot

a Virtual Directory will have a physical path not under the directory wwwroot.  Maybe you have content stored in a different location on another local partition on the server.  You can make that content appear to exist under the Default Web Site by adding a Virtual Directory to the Default Web Site.

a Virtual Directory could have a physical path of:  D:\custom-content\vd01

Then under the path above would be content whatever http valid content you wish.

With reference to where to store content for IIS on your server, I would just recommend to not use the default directory structure of:  %SystemDrive%\inetpub\wwwroot

I always create a new directory structure to store site files and content.  Where or not the new directory structure exists on the system drive, is based on how your server HDD partitions are setup.

Dan

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