Configure .NET and IIS

ASP.NET needs patching, and IIS configuration must be modified for ASP.NET. As well, you must prevent WebDAV from blocking functionality.

Detailed steps depend on the operating system and installed software. You must repeat this process in turn on each of:

  • web application server
  • batch server
  • inventory server
  • Flexera Analytics (Cognos) server
  • each free-standing inventory beacon (the inventory beacon installed on your central batch server is covered by the configuration of the batch server).
    Note: Inventory beacons have an additional requirement, that PowerShell is at least at version 3.0 (see Upgrade PowerShell on Inventory Beacons for more details).
(If your implementation combines multiple servers into a processing server, or into an application server, then complete the task once per server.)
Tip: Mark off each server on your block diagram as this process is completed for that device.

To configure .NET and IIS on a server:

  1. If the server is running Microsoft Windows Server 2012:
    1. Open Windows Programs and Features.
    2. Search the list of applications for Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 (or later). If it is present, skip to step 4 below.
    3. Because Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 (or later) is not present, follow steps under "To install IIS and ASP.NET modules on Windows Server 2012 using the UI" in http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831475.aspx#InstallIIS. Thereafter, continue with step 4 below.
  2. If your server is running Microsoft Windows Server 2008, the original installation was Microsoft .NET Framework 4, but it may have been upgraded already to 4.7.2 or later. To check:
    1. Open Windows Programs and Features.
    2. Search the list of applications for Microsoft .NET Framework, and determine whether it is release 4.7.2 (or later).
      • If it is 4.7.2 (or later), skip to step 4 below.
      • If it is an earlier release, continue here.
  3. If the .NET version is less than 4.7.2, upgrade Microsoft .NET Framework to version 4.7.2 or later.
    For more details, see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/5a4x27ek(v=vs.110).aspx.
  4. Open a Command Line window on the current server (for example, Start > search for cmd > run cmd.exe).
  5. Change directory to the Microsoft .NET Framework installation folder.
  6. Install ASP.NET (which also registers ASP.NET with IIS when present), for example with the platform-appropriate commands:

    For operating systems up to Windows Server 2008 R2, use:

    aspnet_regiis.exe -ir -enable
    For Windows Server 2012, use:
    dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-ApplicationDevelopment
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-ISAPIFilter
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-ISAPIExtensions
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-NetFxExtensibility45
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-ASPNET45
  7. Exit to close the command line window.
    If you are currently working on any of:
    • Your web application server
    • Your batch server
    • A free-standing inventory beacon that uses the FlexNet self-hosted web server (and not IIS)
    loop back now and restart this process for the next server on your list. For your inventory server and any inventory beacon using IIS, continue and disable WebDAV on these devices.
    Tip: Although from IIS 7.0, Microsoft offered a separate download for improved WebDAV functionality, the native WebDAV functionality must also be disabled. Otherwise WebDAV intercepts HTTP processing and blocks FlexNet inventory functionality.
  8. You may first check that WebDAV is installed. For example, on Windows Server 2012:
    1. Open Server Manager (for example, Start > Administrative Tools > Server Manager).
    2. Select Dashboard, and in the dashboard select Add Roles and Features.
      The Add Roles and Features Wizard opens.
    3. In the left-hand navigation pane, select Installation Type, and in the main pane, ensure that the Role-based or feature-based installation is selected.
    4. Click Next (or select Server Selection), and select the server you are currently configuring.
    5. Click Next (or select Server Roles), and in the Roles panel, expand Web Server (IIS) > Web Server > Common HTTP Featured (Installed).
    6. Observe whether the check box for WebDAV Publishing (Installed) is selected.
      If this check box is clear, WebDAV is not installed, and you may click Cancel, then close all relevant dialogs. If this is not the last server on your list, loop back and restart this process on the next server. However, if the check box is selected, WebDAV is installed and must be disabled, as described in the following steps.
  9. Open the IIS settings page. For example:
    • On Windows Server 2016, open Server Manager (Start > Administrative Tools > Server Manager). On the Server Manager dashboard, click IIS to reveal the server name in the right-hand pane. Right-click the server name, and select Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
    • On Windows 7, navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools, and double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
  10. In the work pane that opens, expand the server name node (if required), expand Sites, and select Default Web Site.
  11. In the Home pane for this site, in the IIS group, locate WebDAV Authoring Rules.
    Tip: If it is not present, it is likely that WebDAV is not installed on this server, and your mission is complete.
  12. Right-click the icon, and select Open Feature. A pane opens for WebDAV Authoring Rules.
  13. On the right, in the Actions group, there is an option to enable or disable WebDAV.
    • If the link currently says Enable WebDAV, do nothing, because your mission is complete.
    • If the link current says Disable WebDAV, click the link.
  14. Click OK to close all applicable dialogs.
    If this is not the last server on your list, loop back and restart this process on the next server.
  15. Flexera Analytics requires installation of URL Rewrite.
    1. Open a web browser and open https://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/url-rewrite
    2. Select the Install this extension box, which will download the urlrewrite2.exe file. A selection of alternate language installers are also available on this page.
    3. Run the file which will execute the installation of this extension.
    4. Exit the installer.
  16. Flexera Analytics also requires the installation of Application Request Routing.
    1. Open a web browser and open https://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/application-request-routing
    2. Select the Install this extension box, which will download the ARRv3_0.exe file.
    3. Run the downloaded file which will execute the installation of this extension.
    4. Exit the installer.
Tip: There is additional configuration of IIS handled by PowerShell configuration scripts described later.