Deploying a .NET application to a Windows VPS is one of the most common reasons to choose Windows over Linux hosting. Here’s a complete walkthrough — from setting up IIS to deploying your first ASP.NET app.
What You’ll Need
- A Windows VPS (Windows Server 2019/2022 with at least 4 GB RAM)
- RDP access
- Your .NET application (compiled and ready to deploy)
- .NET Hosting Bundle installed on the server
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Step 1: Install IIS with ASP.NET Module
In Server Manager, add the Web Server (IIS) role. Under Role Services, make sure you include: ASP.NET 4.8, .NET Extensibility, ISAPI Extensions, and Request Filtering. These enable .NET applications to run in IIS.
Step 2: Install .NET Runtime / Hosting Bundle
Download and install the .NET Hosting Bundle from Microsoft’s official site. This includes the .NET runtime, ASP.NET Core module for IIS, and the necessary libraries. Restart IIS after installation.
Step 3: Deploy Your Application
Copy your published application files to the server (use RDP or FTP). In IIS Manager, create a new Application Pool set to “No Managed Code” (for .NET Core) or “ASP.NET v4.0” (for .NET Framework). Then create a new website pointing to your application folder.
Step 4: Configure the Application Pool
For .NET Core applications, set the Application Pool to “No Managed Code” and enable 32-bit applications if needed. For best performance, set “Idle Time-out” to 0 (prevents app pool recycling during inactivity).
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