How to create a virtual directory in Windows 2000 (308135)

SUMMARY

This article describes step-by-step how to create a virtual directory on an existing Web site in a Windows 2000 environment.

A virtual directory is a directory that is not contained within the Web site's home directory, but appears to client browsers as though it were. A virtual directory has an alias that is mapped to the physical location of the Web content. A client appends the alias to the URL of the Web site in order to browse the Web content in that virtual directory. The following table illustrates these mappings:

Physical location	Alias	URL path
C:\WWWroot	home directory (none)	http://Sales
\\Server2 \SalesData\ProdCustomers	Customers	http://Sales/Customers
C:\WWWroot\Quotes	none	http://Sales/Quotes
C:\WWWroot\OrderStatus	none	http://Sales/OrderStatus
D:\Marketing\PR	PR	http://Sales/PR

Both virtual directories and physical directories (directories without an alias) are listed in Internet Services Manager. A virtual directory is indicated by a folder icon with a globe in the corner.

Create a folder in which to store the Web content

1. In Windows Explorer, click the folder in which you want to create the new folder. For example: Inetpub.
2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder.
3. In the New Folder name box, type the name that you want, and then press ENTER. For example, type Web Content, and then press ENTER.
   
   Note To maintain a high level of security, do not create the Web content folder in the root directory of the hard disk.
4. Close Windows Explorer.

Create a virtual directory

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.
2. In the Internet Information Services window, expand the folder, "* server name" (where server name is the name of the server).
3. Right-click the Web site that you want (such as Default Web Site), and then on the shortcut menu that appears, point to New, and click Virtual Directory to start the Virtual Directory Creation Wizard.
4. On the Welcome to the Virtual Directory Creation Wizard screen, click Next.
5. On the Virtual Directory Alias screen, type the alias that you want (such as Sales), and then click Next.
6. On the Web Site Content Directory screen, type the path to the Web content folder that you have created (such as C:\InetPub\Web Content), and then click Next.
7. On the Access Permissions screen, click Next, and then click Finish to complete the creation of the virtual directory.
   
   Note The virtual directory inherits the configuration and security settings of the Web site in which you created it.

Publish Web content to the new folder

For more information about publishing a Web, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Troubleshooting

For more information about issues related to Microsoft Internet Information Services, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: