ASP.NET 4 Unleashed

Overview of Website Configuration

ASP.NET uses a hierarchical system of configuration. At the top of the hierarchy is the Machine.config file. This file contains all the default configuration settings for ASP.NET applications and all other types of applications built with the .NET Framework.

The Machine.config file is located at the following path:

\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[version]\CONFIG\Machine.config

This same folder also contains a Web.config file. The Web.config file contains settings that serve as defaults for all ASP.NET applications running on the machine. The Web.config file overrides particular settings in the Machine.config file.

Note

The \CONFIG folder includes the following six files:

• Machine.config— Contains the actual ...