Caching Applications

You can adjust several settings associated with Web applications running on your server. By adjusting these settings, you can fine-tune server performance. Logging data, such as number of requests and the time they were made, can help you determine how to make the adjustments. For more information on logging server activity, see Logging Web Site Activity. For additional information on performance issues, see About Performance Tuning.

The following settings are covered:

Setting the CGI Script Timeout

In addition to the timeout associated with the connection, you can set a timeout value for CGI scripts. The timeout value is the amount of time a CGI script is given to execute. CGI applications inherit the timeout setting for the entire Web site. You can change the setting for the entire Web site or for an isolated application.

To set the timeout value
  1. In Internet Service Manager, select the Web site or the starting point directory of an isolated application.
  2. Open the directory's property sheets, and then click the Home Directory, Virtual Directory, or the Directory tab.
  3. Click the Configuration button.
  4. Click the Process Options tab, and then type the timeout period in the CGI Script Timeout box.

Caching ISAPI Applications

ISAPI DLLs can be loaded and cached so that further requests can be processed without calling them again. Otherwise, the DLLs are unloaded after they are run. Caching reduces the time a user waits for a DLL to load. Most ISAPI applications (including Active Server Pages) benefit from caching. You should clear this option only for special circumstances, such as debugging ISAPI applications.

To enable caching
  1. In Internet Service Manager, select the Web site or the starting point directory of an application.
  2. Open the directory's property sheets, and then click the Home Directory, Virtual Directory, or Directory tab.
  3. Click the Configuration button.
  4. Click the App Mappings tab, and then select the Cache ISAPI Applications check box.

Caching ASP Script Files

ASP processes the files containing ASP scripts and caches the file in memory for faster performance. You can further improve performance by increasing the number of cached files. You can set the number of cached files for all applications running on a Web site, and you can change the setting for isolated applications.

  1. In Internet Service Manager, select the Web site or the starting point directory of an isolated application.
  2. Open the directory's property sheets, and then click the Home Directory, Virtual Directory, or Directory tab.
  3. Click the Configuration button, and then click the Process Options tab.
  4. To cache all requested .asp files, select the Cache All Requested ASP Files option.
  5. To set the number of cached scripts, select the Max ASP Files Cached option and type a value in the text box.

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