.Net Windows Deployment Iis 6

The Best Ways to Securely Publish a Site Post Build on IIS6 with .NET and Windows

Deploying a website can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to ensuring it’s done securely and efficiently. This blog post seeks to address the question: what’s the best way to securely publish a site post-build in a Windows environment, specifically for applications developed using .NET and deployed to IIS6. Let’s delve into some effective methods for doing this securely and in a scriptable manner.

Understanding the Deployment Challenge

When deploying to an IIS6 server, security is a top priority. The risks involved in an insecure deployment can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and other vulnerabilities that could compromise your application and user data. Therefore, finding a reliable and secure method is essential.

Key Considerations for Secure Deployments

  • Automation: The ability to automate the deployment process to minimize human error.
  • Security Protocols: Utilizing secure protocols such as SSH to ensure that data in transit is encrypted.
  • Version Control: Keeping track of changes in your codebase during the deployment.

1. Using Capistrano

For many projects, Capistrano is an excellent tool to consider. Here’s why:

  • Background: Capistrano is primarily built for Ruby on Rails, but it’s incredibly effective even if your project isn’t Ruby-based.
  • Simplicity: It allows you to write deployment scripts easily, which can be initiated from your local development machine or a continuous integration server.
  • Security: Capistrano uses SSH for secure data transmission, ensuring that your deployment is safe from eavesdropping and attacks.

Steps to Deploy with Capistrano

  1. Install Capistrano: Follow the installation instructions on the Capistrano website.
  2. Configure Your Project: Create a deploy.rb file with your server details and deployment configurations.
  3. Deploy: Use a simple command to deploy your application.

2. Custom Deployment App Using Bash and rsync

Another method involves creating a small deployment application that utilizes bash scripts along with svn and rsync. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Process Overview: This method involves performing an SVN export to a temporary directory followed by transferring files to the live server using rsync.
  • Security: You can easily configure rsync to use SSH for transferring files securely.

Steps to Deploy with Bash and rsync

  1. Create a Temporary Directory: Set up a temporary location for your files.

  2. Export the Latest Version: Execute an SVN export from your repository to the temporary directory.

  3. Transfer Files with rsync: Use the rsync command with SSH to securely move files to your live server.

    rsync -avz -e ssh /path/to/temp/dir username@yourserver:/path/to/live/dir

Conclusion

Choosing the right deployment method is crucial for ensuring the security and efficiency of your website post-build. Whether you opt for Capistrano or a custom bash solution with rsync, the key is to maintain a secure protocol and automate the process as much as possible. By implementing these practices, you can deploy your applications with confidence, knowing that you’ve prioritized security.

If you’re using .NET on Windows and deploying to IIS6, consider these methods as part of your deployment strategy, and watch your deployment process become more secure and manageable.