How to setup a virtual directory for local host test run?

Question

I have an ASP.net MVC 5 aplication with VS2017. I would like to load some pictures from a network path (the pictures should not be included to the project folder structure).

I know how to add a virtual directory in IIS on my server where the application is finally running. But I dont know how to setup the same on my local computer.

On the server I can setup an Alias and a physical path.

But in my project in VS2017(properties/web) I can only press the button "create virtual directory" next to project url "http://localhost:51138/".

Can maybe someone explain how to setup an virtual directory on localhost for testing? Thank you so much.

for plain static content give a try to https://go-www.com, should work in windows — nbari, Jan 11 '18 at 18:32

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 02 '18 at 15:56

You are using the Visual Studio Development Server which does not allow virtual directories. You can do what you want with a local copy of IIS, creating a website that points to your development folder, and creating the virtual directory you want in that website.

Install a local copy of IIS. This is available to you in the Professional version of Windows.
Open IIS Manager, create a new website, and set the Physical Path to your development folder.
Add a binding for this website with the Host name set to a domain name you want to use for testing. I generally use ".loc" as the TLD. For example, the production website domain of "mywebservice.com" would be "mywebservice.loc". Use port 80 in the binding.
Modify your local hosts file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts to include this line. Replace "mywebservice.loc" with whatever domain you chose to use above
mywebservice.loc 127.0.0.1
In your VS project properties, set Web-->Servers to Use Custom Web Server and set the Server Url to mywebservice.loc or whatever domain you chose above.

Now you can add a virtual directory just as you do in production.

I do this for all my website development primarily because nothing will happen in production that does not happen locally. You can even test using real SSL certificates this way.

I will try this tomorrow. The solution sounds really good. I am using Windows 7 Professional. — Osti, Jan 02 '18 at 16:22
I'm on Windows 7 Pro as well. Happy to answer any questions. — sthames42, Jan 02 '18 at 16:32

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 09 '21 at 20:07

2

Just create a folder in the directory of your project to mimic what will be a virtual directory and then copy some test files there.

For example, create a documents directory in your project directory. So the referenced path in your project will be something like ~/documents/somefile.pdf

The server's virtual directory documents can then point to some some other network location.

edited Aug 09 '21 at 20:07

colinD

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answered Aug 06 '21 at 15:17

Jason G.

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How to setup a virtual directory for local host test run?

2 Answers2