Increasing ExpressPro Performance

Due to the nature of the technology used in ExpressPro performance is slower than in Express.

To increase the performance of ExpressPro IIS Compression can be used.

This is the process used to compress files before they are sent to compression-enabled clients. When a file is requested, the compressed copy is created and stored in a cache directory. This compressed file is sent when subsequent requests are received. Files are compressed only when they are requested.

Setting up IIS Compression

IIS 5 (Windows 2000)

• Open IIS. Right click on the Computer icon and choose Properties.
• In the Master Properties section click Edit for the WWW Service.
• Choose the Service tab and locate the HTTP Compression section.
• Within the HTTP Compression section enable the check boxes for 'Compress Application Files' and 'Compress Static Files'.
• Either accept the default or specify the Temporary Directory where the cached compressed files will go.
• Click Apply then Ok twice.

Specifying the Files to Compress

Following the instructions above will compress .htm, .html, and .txt files. Enabling application files compresses .asp, .dll, and .exe files. However for ExpressPro to benefit you must also compress files with the .aspx and .ascx extension.

• Open a command line and navigate to \inetpub\AdminScripts for the server that you are enabling HTTP Compression on.
• Enter the following commands:
      cscript adsutil.vbs SET W3SVC/Filters/Compression/Deflate/HcScriptFileExtensions "aspx ascx"
      cscript adsutil.vbs SET W3SVC/Filters/Compression/gzip/HcScriptFileExtensions "aspx ascx"
• Restart IIS and your changes are complete

IIS 6 (Windows 2003)

IIS Compression can be used within IIS 6 or IIS 6 running in IIS 5 isolation mode.

• Open IIS. Right click on the Websites folder and choose Properties.
• Open the Services tab. Within the IIS Compression section enable the check boxes for 'Compress Application Files' and 'Compress Static Files'.
• Either accept the default or specify the Temporary Directory where the cached compressed files will go.
• Click Apply then Ok.

Specifying the Files to Compress

Following the instructions above will compress .htm, .html, and .txt files. Enabling application files compresses .asp, .dll, and .exe files. However for ExpressPro to benefit you must also compress files with the .aspx and .ascx extension.

• Open a command line and enter the following commands:
      cscript adsutil.vbs SET W3SVC/Filters/Compression/Deflate/HcScriptFileExtensions "aspx ascx"
      cscript adsutil.vbs SET W3SVC/Filters/Compression/gzip/HcScriptFileExtensions "aspx ascx"
• Restart IIS and your changes are complete