Microsoft® IIS 6.0 Administrator's Pocket Consultant

Managing Directories

The directory structure of IIS is based primarily on the Windows Server 2003 file system, but it also provides additional functionality and flexibility. Understanding these complexities is critical to successfully managing IIS Web sites.

Understanding Physical and Virtual Directory Structures

Earlier in this chapter, I discussed home directories and how they were used. Beyond home directories, Microsoft Web sites also use the following:

• Physical directories

• Virtual directories

The difference between physical and virtual directories is important. A physical directory is part of the file system and to be available through IIS, it must exist as a subdirectory within the home directory. A virtual directory is a directory that isn’t ...