How to Host a Blazor Server App in IIS – A Guide for Devs

Welcome, Dev, to our guide on how to host a Blazor Server app in IIS. In this article, we will provide step-by-step instructions on configuring and deploying a Blazor Server app on IIS. We will cover various aspects that you need to consider, such as setup requirements, configuration settings, troubleshooting, and more. So, let’s dive in!

Section 1: Introduction to Blazor Server Apps

Blazor is an open-source web framework developed by Microsoft that allows developers to build interactive web apps using C# and .NET. Blazor offers two hosting models: Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly. In this article, we will focus on the Blazor Server hosting model.

Blazor Server apps run on the server-side and use SignalR to establish a connection between the client and the server. This model provides better performance and scalability compared to traditional client-side frameworks. Additionally, Blazor Server apps offer a more natural programming model for developers who are familiar with .NET development.

Now that we have a basic understanding of Blazor Server apps let’s move on to the setup and configuration process.

Section 2: Setup Requirements

Before we proceed with configuring IIS for hosting Blazor Server apps, let’s first ensure that we meet the setup requirements. Here are the requirements:

Once you have met the setup requirements, we can move on to the configuration phase.

Section 3: Configuring IIS for Hosting Blazor Server Apps

In this section, we will provide step-by-step instructions on configuring IIS for hosting a Blazor Server app.

Step 1: Create a New Site in IIS

The first step is to create a new site in IIS where we will host the Blazor Server app. Here are the steps:

1. Open IIS Manager.
2. Right-click on the Sites node and select Add Website.
3. Enter a name for the site in the Site name field.
4. Specify the physical path where the Blazor Server app is located in the Physical path field.
5. Specify the Binding settings. For example, you can choose HTTP or HTTPS protocol, specify the IP address, and the port number.
6. Click OK to create the site.

Once you have created the site, you can proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Configure the App Pool

The next step is to configure the App Pool for the site. Here are the steps:

1. Open the App Pool for the site.
2. Set the .NET CLR version to “No Managed Code”.
3. Set the Managed pipeline mode to “Integrated”.
4. Set the Identity to “ApplicationPoolIdentity”.
5. Click OK to save the changes.

The App Pool is now configured. Let’s move on to the next step.

Step 3: Configure the Web.config File

The next step is to configure the web.config file for the site. Here are the steps:

1. Open the web.config file in a text editor.
2. Add the following XML snippet inside the <configuration> element:

<system.webServer><handlers><add name="httpPlatformHandler" path="*" verb="*" modules="httpPlatformHandler" resourceType="Unspecified" requireAccess="Script" /></handlers><httpPlatform processPath="%LAUNCHER_PATH%" arguments="%LAUNCHER_ARGS%" stdoutLogEnabled="false" startupTimeLimit="3600" /></system.webServer>

Save the changes to the web.config file.

Step 4: Deploy the App to IIS

The final step is to deploy the Blazor Server app to IIS. Here are the steps:

1. Build the Blazor Server app using Visual Studio or the .NET CLI.
2. Copy the contents of the output folder to the physical path you specified in Step 1.
3. Restart IIS or recycle the App Pool to pick up the changes.

That’s it! You have successfully hosted your Blazor Server app on IIS.

Section 4: Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while hosting your Blazor Server app on IIS, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Verify the Setup Requirements

Ensure that you have met all the setup requirements mentioned in Section 2. For example, if you have not installed the .NET Core runtime, you will not be able to host the Blazor Server app on IIS.

Check the Web.config File

If you have issues with the Blazor Server app not working correctly, ensure that you have configured the web.config file correctly. The web.config file contains various settings that determine how the app runs on IIS.

Check the App Pool Settings

If the Blazor Server app is not responding, ensure that the App Pool settings are configured correctly. For example, if the identity is set to “ApplicationPoolIdentity,” ensure that the necessary permissions are granted to the App Pool user.

Check the Site Bindings

If you encounter issues with the site not being accessible, check the site bindings. Ensure that the bindings match the protocol, IP address, and port specified in the web.config file.

Section 5: Conclusion

Hosting a Blazor Server app on IIS is a straightforward process. You need to meet the setup requirements, configure IIS, and deploy the app to IIS. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully set up and host a Blazor Server app on IIS. We hope this guide was helpful to you, Dev!

FAQs

Q: Can I host a Blazor Server app on a Linux server?

A: Yes, you can host a Blazor Server app on a Linux server using the .NET Core runtime and a web server such as Apache or Nginx.

Q: How does Blazor Server achieve better performance?

A: Blazor Server apps run on the server-side and use SignalR to establish a connection between the client and the server. This model allows the app to execute code on the server and transmit the rendered UI to the client, resulting in better performance and scalability compared to traditional client-side frameworks.

Q: Do I need to configure anything differently if I want to host multiple Blazor Server apps on the same IIS server?

A: Yes, you need to ensure that each app has its own site and App Pool configured with the correct settings. Additionally, you need to ensure that each app has a different port number or hostname specified in the web.config file.