IIS Redirect Variables

Not sure how I had not been aware of these before, but discovered the power of IIS Redirect Variables today whilst looking for a way to redirect requests, but include the query string.

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313074

Use Redirect variables to either pass portions of the original URL with the destination URL or to prevent redirection of a specific file or folder. The following table lists the redirect variables that you can use in the Redirect to box and provides an example of each:

The $S variable passes the matched suffix of the requested URL. The matched suffix is the portion of the original URL that remains after the redirected URL is substituted. The server automatically performs this suffix substitution. The $S variable is used only in combination with other variables. If /Scripts is redirected to /NewScripts and the original request is for /Scripts/Program.exe, the suffix is /Program.exe.

The $P variable passes the parameters in the original URL without the question mark that is used to specify the beginning of the query string. If the original URL is /Scripts/MyScript.asp?number=1, the string "number=1" is mapped into the destination URL.

The $Q variable passes the full query string (the question mark and the parameters) from the original URL. If the original URL is /Scripts/MyScript.asp?number=1, the string "?number=1" is mapped into the destination URL.

The $V variable passes the requested URL, without the server name. If the original URL is /Myserver/Scripts/MyScript.asp, the string "/Scripts/MyScript.asp" is mapped into the destination URL.

The variables $0 through $9 pass the portion of the requested URL that matches the indicated wildcard.

! Do not redirect. Use this variable to prevent redirecting a folder or an individual file.

SelfSSL for IIS

Install the 'IIS6 Resource Kit' from here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=56fc92ee-a71a-4c73-b628-ade629c89499&DisplayLang=en

Note: Although this is the ISS6 Resource Kit it also works for IIS 5. Just copy the selfssl.exe to your Windows 2000 server.

Log into the server that requires the certificate renewal with local administrator rights:

1. Go to ‘Start’ – ‘Programs’ – ‘IIS Resources’ – ‘SelfSSL’ choose ‘SelfSSL’
2. Type in ‘selfssl.exe /N:CN=/K:1024 /V:1095 /S:1 /P:443 /T’ with the correct server name for example: ‘selfssl.exe /N:CN=SERVERABC123 /K:1024 /V:1095 /S:1 /P:443 /T’
3. Select ‘Enter’
4. When you receive the message ‘Do you want to replace the SSL settings for site 1 (Y/N)?’ pres ‘Y’
5. You should receive the message ‘The self signed certificate was successfully assigned to site 1.’

For IIS7 see ScottGu's tutorial here: Enabling SSL on IIS 7.0 Using Self-Signed Certificates