Changing the Location and/or Name of MetaBase.xml

This procedure illustrates how to change the default location of the MetaBase.XML file and/or change the name of the file that IIS looks for instead of the MetaBase.XML file when IIS starts.

Stop the IISAdmin service.

From a command prompt window type the following command to stop the IISAdmin service:

net stop iisadmin /y

If you are creating a new location for the MetaBase.XML file then go to step 2. Otherwise go to step 3.

If the folder that you want to store the metabse files in does not already exist then create the folder. For security reasons it is best to keep the folder used to store your metabase files separate from your content files.

Important It is recommended that you copy the MetaBase.XML and MBSchema.XML files as well as the history folder (found in %windir%\system32\inetsrv\by default), as well as the files within the history folder, to the new folder. Otherwise a default MetaBase.XML and blank MBSchema.XML file will be created when IIS is restarted, and the history files will not be available for edit while running.

If you are not renaming the MetaBase.XML file then go to step 4.

If you intend to rename the MetaBase.XML file, then you should create a copy of the existing MetaBase.XML file and rename the copy to the new name. If you do not create a file with the name that you use in step 9 below, then a default metabase file will be created when IIS is restarted.

Select Run from the Start Menu.

In the Open text box type Regedit and click OK.

Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\InetMGR\Parameters node.

Select the Parameters node, and select New and then String Value from the Edit menu.

Type in MetadataFile for the Name and press Enter.

Important The name MetadataFile is case sensitive.

Double click on the registry key name that you just created (MetadataFile) and enter the location folder that wish to store the metabase files in as well as the name of the file.

Example 1: If you want to store the metabase file in a folder called metadata on drive d, you would type the following: d:\MetaData\MetaBase.XML
Example 2: You want to store the metabase file in a folder called metadata on drive d and you have renamed the MetaBase.XML file to MySecretFile.XML in step 3, you would type the following: d:\MetaData\MySecretFile.XML

Restart IIS.

Note Changes to the registry are not detected by IIS until IIS is restarted.

From a command prompt window type the following command to restart the IISAdmin service:

net start iisadmin /y

From a command prompt window type the following command to restart the World Wide Web Publishing service:

net start w3svc

Additionally, if have previously installed additional services related to IIS such as the FTP Publishing service, Network News Transport Protocol service, or the Simple Mail Transport Protocol service, then these services must also be restarted. These services can be restarted using the Windows Computer Management console or from the command line. For information about starting services using Computer Management console, search for "using services" in the Windows XP online help.

From a command prompt window type the following command to restart the FTP Publishing service:

net start msftpsvc

From a command prompt window type the following command to restart the Simple Mail Transport Protocol service:

net start smptsvc

From a command prompt window type the following command to restart the Network News Transport Protocol service:

net start nntpsvc

Related Topics

it, search for the keyword "Regedit" in the Windows online help.
For information about starting services using Computer Management console, search for "using services" in the Windows online help.

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