MMC Does Not Display Virtual Directories When the Virtual Directory Is Designated as a UNC (243044)

We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) to display a virtual directory in Internet Information Server (IIS), the MMC may show that the virtual directory is unavailable and not enumerate the directory contents as expected. This can happen when the virtual directory is designated as a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) connection to another computer. The connection may appear as though the computer is not available on the network.

CAUSE

When the actual UNC connection has not been previously established, the MMC attempts to connect using the logged-on user. If the logged-on user does not have the proper access to the share, then the MMC fails to enumerate the virtual directory correctly.

This only occurs in the MMC, and not to the Web services. This does not affect the functionality of the Web services because IIS scans the metabase for the proper credentials to make the UNC connection. Therefore, the virtual directory is usable to the Web server.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, make a UNC connection to the system that the virtual directory is using, prior to starting the MMC.