Check for specific components on IIS Server

Have you ever wondered whether or not a specific component is installed on your host's server? Have you ever just wanted to see a list of the components available for you to use? Perhaps you know that an email component is offered by your host, but you're not sure that it is setup and functioning properly. The Component Tests offered by http://www.pensaworks.com answer those questions and more.

1. Download this free test from http://www.pensaworks.com/prg_com.asp
2. Extract the asp files to any directory on your local harddrive.
3. Upload the files to your website via FTP or any other File Transfer Program.
4. Access the scripts by typing in the full URL to the script.
5. The script will run automatically and prompt for further action if required.
6. Use 'test_mailer_components.asp' to test whether or not certain Mailer Components are installed and functioning properly.
7. Use 'test_asp_components.asp'  to test whether or not a list of over 300+ server Components are installed on your server for you to use. Details on the version, DLL name, and more are provided for those COMs that are installed.

If your browser tries to download the file instead or returning plain HTML, then you do NOT have an ASP enabled server. Sorry, it just won't work!

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Tags: IIS

Published Date: 20080607

How to add new Website in IIS5.1 on Windows XP

If IIS is running in Windows XP, it does not give you an option to add a new Website in the Internet Services Manager mmc console. However you can add a new website using a vbscript that comes with IIS. However do remember that only ONE website can run at a time in IIS running on Windows XP. To add a new website  follow the below instructions.

1. Open Internet Services manager and stop the Default Web Site
2. Open a command prompt windows and navigate to the folder 'c:\Inetpub\AdminScripts'
3. Type “adsutil.vbs enum w3svc /p" to get a list of websites created. Basically only the Default Website is listed (W3SVC/1)
4. Type “adsutil.vbs create W3SVC/2” (the last number can be anything; it is the index of the new website)
5. Type “adsutil.vbs copy W3SVC/1 W3SVC/2” to copy the whole directory structure and settings to the new website
6. Go to the Internet Service manager and and rename this new website, give it a new root folder and set it up however you like
7. To delete an existing website type “adsutil.vbs delete W3SVC/2” (Remember DELETING A WEBSITE IS IRREVERSIBLE so please be extremely careful)

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Tags: IIS, Windows XP

Published Date: 20080606

How to install CDONTs in Windows XP to run liberum helpdesk software

When you are running liberum helpdesk software and choose to use CDONTS as the underlying email service users may receive the following error

Application Error
Number: 424 (0x000001A8)
Source: Microsoft VBScript runtime error
Description: Object required
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No more information is available.
Contact your administrator or visit the Liberum Help Desk website.

This happens because CDONTS is deprecated and is not available in Windows XP or Windows 2003. To resolve this issue follow the below instructions.

1. Hunt for cdonts.dll on Internet and copy it to %systemroot%\system32 folder.
2. Open command prompt and navigate to System32 directory.
3. Type the following command 'regsvr32 cdonts.dll'

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Tags: Helpdesk, IIS

Published Date: 20080605

How to run .cgi .pm and .pl (perl scripts) in IIS

After struggling for hours I finally managed to run .cgi, .pm and .pl scripts in IIS. I needed this to test Trouble Ticket Express (ttx224) Helpdesk software available from http://www.unitedwebcoders.com

First you need to install Active perl.

Second you need to setup the scripts virtual directory. It will not be available by default if you did not customize IIS installation. You will find it under IIS -> World Wide Web Service -> Scripts Virtual Directory.

Do not confuse the physical directory c:\Inetpub\scripts with the virtual directory that is visible in the Inetmgr. Although the virtual directory points to the same physical directory however internally IIS modifies/creates some pointers to make this setup work correctly. Also dont try to add a virtual directory scripts and point it to the physical directory as this will not help.

Once you have done that, Copy all the scripts in the c:\Inetpub\scripts folder.

Now open Inetmgr and register .pl, .pm and .cgi as extensions that would parsed using perl processor. To do so

1. Open inermgr and choose properties of the Default Website

2. Go to Home Directory tab and choose configuration

3. Click Add to add and application extension.

4. Fill in the details as shown in the following screenshot.

Do the same for all the three extensions, namely .pl, .pm and .cgi

5. Remember to fill in the details for each extension exactly the way it is shown above.

6. Restart the World Wide Web Publishing Service.

bingo you are all set to go.

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Tags: CGI, Helpdesk, IIS, Perl

Published Date: 20080520