I am trying to set up a build project to publish an vs2008 website. The website is a website project so there is no project file (.vbproj) file assocaited with it. The website is part of a solution that contains the website and a data component (vb class library).
Thus far I have tried using a Build VS.Net Solution action. It ran successfully but only moved the bin folder to the destination folder specified in the action. I saw similar posts but have not found the answer I need. What do I need to do? Do I need to create a deployement project for the website? Can I reference (or use) the web deployement project file in my Build VS.Net Solution?
I am thinking that I would need the deployment project even if I do an MSBuild script.
Once I have publish the site, how should I deploy it on my QA server (Windows 2003). All the QA sites are set up as virtual directories underneath the default website.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Dave,
Using a web deployment project would be the best option when the project is a web site (as opposed to a web application), the links below should help you get started with them. To deploy them to your QA server’s you could either do this from the build process, or create a web setup project in Visual Studio and have it create the virtual directory during installation.
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/01/28/vs-2008-web-deployment-project-support-released.aspx
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2005/11/06/429723.aspx
Regards,
Paul.
Thanks for the prompt response Paul.
I will give the web deployment project a shot.
As far as deploying to my QA server (which also happens be be my build server), I already have the virtual directories set up in IIS. Do you recommend that I stop the web publishing service on the server and copy the files into the home (physical) directories for the virtual directories and then restart the service? If so what is the best tool for doing that?
I intend to have this be part of the build process.
Thanks again.
-Dave
Hi Dave,
If you already have a Virtual Directory set up then you should be able to just overwrite the existing web site files with the new files from the build, you shouldn’t need to stop the service before you do this. Though in saying that, if you do need to stop the web server services then you can use the IIS actions (‘Stop WWW Service’).
Regards,
Paul.