Q: How do I configure IIS to use the function "Simple address to the page" in EPiServer 4?

A:

EPiServer 4.0.0.22 and later

In EPiServer 4.0.0.22 and later versions a custom error page replaces the standard "404 Not Found" error page to handle requests against directories that only exists in EPiServer and not in the file structure. The custom page that is used is by default "/Util/NotFound.aspx". The default page can safely be changed to any ASP.NET page without breaking the functionality in EPiServer. This configuration is done automatically by the installation program as of EPiServer 4.10.

In case you need to configure the "404 Not Found" custom error page in IIS manually, this screenshot shows a configuration of the EPiServerSample site:

EPiServer 4.0.0.21 and earlier

In EPiServer version 4.0.0.21 and earlier the filetype "*" needs to be mapped to the ASP.NET environment, so that all requests are forwarded to ASP.NET. This is required for simple addresses such as "/products" to work. EPiServer 4.0.0.21 simple address configuration is described further down in this article. 

The following information applies to EPiServer 4.0.0.22 and earlier versions. Future versions of EPiServer will also work as described below, but only for a transition period.

Configure the properties for the site as follows:

1. Enter Properties > Home Directory for the actual site.
2. Click the button Configuration...
3. Select the tab Mappings
4. Add a line to the mappings with the following information:
   
   

   Executable:	C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.0.3705\aspnet_isapi.dll
   Extension:	.*
   Script Engine:	Checked
   Check that file exists:	Empty

   
   
   
5. Click OK

<httpModules>
  <add name="SpiderSupport" type="EPiServer.Util.SpiderSupport, EPiServer" />
</httpModules>

You can test this by editing a page in EPiServer, choose Advanced information and enter a simple address, for example "/test" (without quotation marks). Note that the character / needs to be entered before the simple address.