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asp.netiisserverwebserver

Sites not visible under the Sites node in Connection Pane

I am setting up a new Site in IIS on a Web Server, and for some reason, I am unable to see the sites I create under the Sites node in the Connections Pane on the left. I have attached screenshots of IIS in the Web Server, which has the issue, and that of an App Server where the Site is visible in the connections pane.

What might cause this weird issue?

Error

Normal Behavior

Solution

  • After spending almost 2 days on this issue, I was able to figure out what caused this issue. The C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\Config on the Web Server contains different configuration files that define the settings and behavior of the IIS Web Server. This folder contains a XML configuration file named applicationHost.config, which is the main configuration file for IIS and contains the global settings that apply to the entire web server.

    In my case, this file got corrupted while I was executing some PowerShell scripts to set up App Pool and Site in IIS. The <sites> element, which was supposed to be added as a child of the <system.applicationHost> element, and as a sibling to <applicationPools>, <log>, <webLimits>, etc., was added in an additional <system.applicationHost> node which was created by the script.

    Corrupt applicationHost.config file: Corrupt applicationHost.config file

    I fixed the issue by moving the <sites> node to the correct <system.applicationHost> element and removing the extra <system.applicationHost> from the applicationHost.config file.

    applicationHost.config file after applying the fix: applicationHost.config file after applying the fix

    Special mention to this article by Michael Noto in IIS Support blog which helped me fix the issue: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/iis-support-blog/the-iis-management-console-connection-pane-doesn-t-show-any/ba-p/1167145