Q298408: IIS Redirects When Folder Without Trailing Slash Is Requested

Article: Q298408
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): 4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbgrpdsvc
Last Modified: 15-MAY-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server versions 4.0, 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When a browser requests a URL such as http://www.servername.de/SubDir, the
browser is redirected to http://www.servername.de/SubDir/. A trailing slash is
included at the end of the URL.

CAUSE
=====

Internet Information Server (IIS) first treats SubDir as a file that it should
give back to the browser. If this file cannot be found, IIS checks to see if
there is a directory with this name. If a directory with this name exists, a
courtesy redirect with a 302 "Object moved" response message is returned to the
browser. This message also contains the information about the new location of
the directory with the trailing slash. In turn, the browser starts a new GET
request to the URL with the trailing slash.

With this slash at the end of the URL, IIS treats this as a directory and tries
to obtain either the default document from this directory or, if no default
document exists, returns the directory listing or a "Directory listing denied"
error message.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbgrpdsvc 
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis500 kbiis400
Version           : :4.0,5.0
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbpending

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