This topic contains conceptual information about the metabase, including the namespace, inheritance, and the key for metabase properties tables.
The metabase can be modified in the following ways: By configuring values through the use of Internet Service Manager, the IIS Admin Objects user interface (which conforms to the Microsoft Active Directory Services Interface [ADSI]), and the IIS Admin Base Object (which is implemented through DCOM).
Caution Configuring properties in the metabase incorrectly can cause problems, including the failure of a Web site or FTP site. If you make mistakes, your Web site or FTP site's configuration could be damaged. You should edit metabase properties only for settings that you cannot adjust in the user interface, and be very careful whenever you edit the metabase directly.
The namespace, which specifies the location of metabase properties, is organized in the following manner:
LM/<Service>/<Website>/Root/<virtual directory>/<dir>/<file>
Where LM = Local Machine
<Service> = Internet Service (W3SVC or MSFTPSVC)
<Website> = Web site
Root = virtual directory root
<virtual directory> = virtual directory
<dir> = directory
<file> = file
For example, if the namespace of the metabase path
LM/W3SVC/Website1/Root
is associated with the virtual path
C:\Inetpub\wwwroot
then the URL
http://example.microsoft.com/default.htm
could be mapped to the physical file path
C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\default.htm
Metabase properties configured at higher levels, such as the Web site level, can be passed on, or inherited, by the lower levels, such as the directory level; these inherited properties can be individually edited at the lower level as well. Once a property has been changed on an individual server, directory, or file, changes to the settings at the higher level will not automatically override the lower individual setting.
Properties for the metabase are presented in table format, with configuration information organized as follows:
| Task or functional area: A description of the task to be completed using Internet Service Manager, and the metabase property that is modified as a result. |
| Range: The scope of values that a property can have. Default: The value that a property maintains without user modification. Location in ISM: Name of the property sheet or dialog box in Internet Service Manager that allows the modification of the property. Can be configured at: Indication of what levels in the metabase hierarchy (computer, Web site, FTP site, virtual directory, directory, and/or file) the property can be affected. |
| Description of the property and the implications of modifying it. |