FastCGI Application <application>

Overview

The FastCGI <application> element contains the configurations settings for a specific FastCGI process pool definition. When FastCGI is used, IIS will use the value in the maxInstances attribute of the <application> element to determine the number of FastCGI processes that can run in the process pool.

The simplest FastCGI application pool definition requires that you include the fullPath attribute in an <application> element to define the binaries to use for the specific application framework. For the PHP framework, set the fullPath attribute to the directory and file name of the PHP binaries.

Other attributes are optional and let you configure a number of other parameters. These include the maximum number of requests that a FastCGI worker process can process before it is recycled, the maximum number of worker processes for an application pool, and the maximum amount of time a FastCGI request can take.

New in IIS 7.5

IIS 7.5 added the following attributes to the <fastCgi>/<application> element:

• The monitorChangesTo attribute lets you specify a file to monitor for changes that might affect the behavior of a FastCGI application. For example, if you use the PHP framework, you can configure IIS to monitor the PHP.INI file for changes by specifying the full path to the file in the monitorChangesTo attribute.
• The stderrMode attribute specifies how IIS 7 will handle errors that are returned from a FastCGI application through the STDERR stream.
• The signalBeforeTerminateSeconds attribute lets you configure IIS to wait for a specified period of time after IIS signals a FastCGI application that it needs to shut down. This lets a FastCGI application clean up any settings before IIS terminates the process.

Compatibility

Setup

To use the FastCGI environment, you must first install the CGI role service. The installation process registers the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) role service in both the <globalModules> and <modules> elements. You do not need to perform any other steps to install the FastCGI environment.

Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2

1. On the taskbar, click Server Manager.
2. In Server Manager, click the Manage menu, and then click Add Roles and Features.
3. In the Add Roles and Features wizard, click Next. Select the installation type and click Next. Select the destination server and click Next.
4. On the Server Roles page, expand Web Server (IIS), expand Web Server, expand Application Development, and then select CGI. Click Next.
   
5. On the Select Features page, click Next.
6. On the Confirm installation selections page, click Install.
7. On the Results page, click Close.

Windows 8 or Windows 8.1

1. On the Start screen, move the pointer all the way to the lower left corner, right-click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Expand Internet Information Services, expand World Wide Web Services, expand Application Development Features, and then select CGI.
   
4. Click OK.
5. Click Close.

Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2

1. On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
2. In the Server Manager hierarchy pane, expand Roles, and then click Web Server (IIS).
3. In the Web Server (IIS) pane, scroll to the Role Services section, and then click Add Role Services.
4. On the Select Role Services page of the Add Role Services Wizard, select CGI, and then click Next.
   
5. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.
6. On the Results page, click Close.

Windows Vista or Windows 7

1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows Features on or off.
3. Expand Internet Information Services, then select CGI, and then click OK.
   

How To

Note for IIS 7.0 users: Some of the steps in this section may require that you install the Microsoft Administration Pack for IIS 7.0, which includes a user interface for FastCGI settings. To install the Microsoft Administration Pack for IIS 7.0, see the following URL:

• https://www.iis.net/expand/AdministrationPack

How to create a global FastCGI handler mapping for PHP

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, click the server name for which you want to configure FastCGI handler mappings.

3. In the Home pane, double-click Handler Mappings.
   

4. In the Actions pane, click Add Module Mapping
   

5. Enter the following information:

   • Enter the file name extension in the Request path text box. For example, "*.php".

   • Click FastCgiModule in the Module drop-down list.

   • Enter the path to the scripting engine in the Executable box. For example, "C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe".

   • Enter a unique name for the handler mapping in the Name box. For example, "PHP-FastCGI".

     

   • Click Request Restrictions

   • Select Invoke handler only if request is mapped to.

   • Click to select the File or Folder option.

   • Click OK.

     

6. Click OK.

7. If you are prompted to create a FastCGI application in the Add Module Mapping dialog box, click Yes.

   

   Note

   This will automatically create a FastCGI application for the handler mapping that you just created. If you choose No, you can manually create a FastCGI application later.

How to create a FastCGI application for PHP

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, click the server name for which you want to configure FastCGI settings.

3. In the Home pane, double-click FastCGI Settings.

   

4. In the Actions pane, click Add Application.

   

5. In the Add FastCGI Application dialog box, enter the following information:

   • Enter the path to the scripting engine in the Full Path box. For example, "C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe".

   • Enter the maximum number of requests for the FastCGI application.

     Note

     For PHP, this number must be lesser or equal to the maximum number of requests for PHP environment, which is configured by using the PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS environment variable.

     

6. Click the ellipsis (...) next to EnvironmentVariables to open the environment variables collection editor.

7. In the EnvironmentVariables Collection Editor dialog box, click Add.

   

8. Enter the following information, and then click OK.

   • Enter "PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS" for the Name.

   • Enter "10000" for the Value.

     

9. Click OK to close the Add FastCGI Application dialog box.

How add a FastCGI environment variable for PHP

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager:

   • If you are using Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Server Manager, click Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1:

     • Hold down the Windows key, press the letter X, and then click Control Panel.
     • Click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7:

     • On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
     • Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

2. In the Connections pane, click the server name for which you want to configure FastCGI settings.

3. In the Home pane, double-click FastCGI Settings.

   

4. Highlight the PHP application in the FastCGI Settings pane, then click Edit in the Actions pane.

   

5. In the Edit FastCGI Application dialog box, click the ellipsis (...) next to EnvironmentVariables to open the environment variables collection editor.

   

6. In the EnvironmentVariables Collection Editor dialog box, click Add.

   

7. Enter the following information, and then click OK.

   • Enter "PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS" for the Name.

   • Enter "10000" for the Value.

     

8. Click OK to close the Add FastCGI Application dialog box.

Configuration

You can configure the <application> element at the server level in the ApplicationHost.config file or at the site level, application level, or directory level in a Web.config file.

Attributes

Child Elements

Configuration Sample

The following configuration sample adds a FastCGI application for PHP, sets the instanceMaxRequests attribute to "10000," and sets the PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS environment variable to "10000."

<fastCgi>
   <application fullPath="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
         arguments=""
         maxInstances="4"
         idleTimeout="300"
         activityTimeout="30"
         requestTimeout="90"
         instanceMaxRequests="10000"
         protocol="NamedPipe"
         flushNamedPipe="false">
      <environmentVariables>
         <environmentVariable
            name="PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS"
            value="10000" />
      </environmentVariables>
   </application>
</fastCgi>

The following configuration sample adds a global FastCGI handler mapping for PHP files to IIS and specifies the full path to a FastCGI executable file.

<configuration>
   <location path="" overrideMode="Allow">
      <system.webServer>
         <handlers>
            <add name="PHP-FastCGI"
                path="*.php"
                verb="GET,HEAD,POST"
                modules="FastCgiModule"
                scriptProcessor="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
                resourceType="Either"
                requireAccess="Script" />
         </handlers>
      </system.webServer>
   </location>
</configuration>

<fastCgi>
   <application fullPath="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
      arguments="-d open_basedir=C:\Websites\Website1" />
   <application fullPath="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
      arguments="-d open_basedir=C:\Websites\Website2" />
</fastCgi>

<system.webServer>
   <handlers accessPolicy="Read, Script"> 
      <add name="PHP via FastCGI 1"
         path="*.php"
         verb="*"
         modules="FastCgiModule"
         scriptProcessor="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe|-d open_basedir=C:\Websites\Website1"
         resourceType="Unspecified"
         requireAccess="Script" />
      <add name="PHP via FastCGI 2"
         path="*.php"
         verb="*"
         modules="FastCgiModule"
         scriptProcessor="C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe|-d open_basedir=C:\Websites\Website2"
         resourceType="Unspecified"
         requireAccess="Script" />
</handlers>
</system.webServer>

Sample Code

The following code samples add a FastCGI application for PHP, set the instanceMaxRequests attribute to "10000," and set the PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS environment variable to "10000." Each sample also adds a global FastCGI handler mapping for PHP files to IIS and specifies the full path to a FastCGI executable file.

AppCmd.exe

appcmd.exe set config -section:system.webServer/fastCgi /+"[fullPath='C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe',arguments='',maxInstances='4',idleTimeout='300',activityTimeout='30',requestTimeout='90',instanceMaxRequests='10000',protocol='NamedPipe',flushNamedPipe='False']" /commit:apphost

appcmd.exe set config -section:system.webServer/fastCgi /+"[fullPath='C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe'].environmentVariables.[name='PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS',value='10000']" /commit:apphost

appcmd.exe set config -section:system.webServer/handlers /+"[name='PHP-FastCGI',path='*.php',verb='GET,HEAD,POST',modules='FastCgiModule',scriptProcessor='C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe',resourceType='Either',requireAccess='Script']" /commit:apphost

C#

using System;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.Web.Administration;

internal static class Sample
{
   private static void Main()
   {
      using (ServerManager serverManager = new ServerManager())
      {
         Configuration config = serverManager.GetApplicationHostConfiguration();

         ConfigurationSection fastCgiSection = config.GetSection("system.webServer/fastCgi");
         ConfigurationElementCollection fastCgiCollection = fastCgiSection.GetCollection();
         ConfigurationElement applicationElement = fastCgiCollection.CreateElement("application");
         applicationElement["fullPath"] = @"C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe";
         applicationElement["arguments"] = @"";
         applicationElement["maxInstances"] = 4;
         applicationElement["idleTimeout"] = 300;
         applicationElement["activityTimeout"] = 30;
         applicationElement["requestTimeout"] = 90;
         applicationElement["instanceMaxRequests"] = 10000;
         applicationElement["protocol"] = @"NamedPipe";
         applicationElement["flushNamedPipe"] = false;

         ConfigurationElementCollection environmentVariablesCollection = applicationElement.GetCollection("environmentVariables");
         ConfigurationElement environmentVariableElement = environmentVariablesCollection.CreateElement("environmentVariable");
         environmentVariableElement["name"] = @"PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS";
         environmentVariableElement["value"] = @"10000";
         environmentVariablesCollection.Add(environmentVariableElement);
         fastCgiCollection.Add(applicationElement);

         ConfigurationSection handlersSection = config.GetSection("system.webServer/handlers");
         ConfigurationElementCollection handlersCollection = handlersSection.GetCollection();
         ConfigurationElement addElement = handlersCollection.CreateElement("add");
         addElement["name"] = @"PHP-FastCGI";
         addElement["path"] = @"*.php";
         addElement["verb"] = @"GET,HEAD,POST";
         addElement["modules"] = @"FastCgiModule";
         addElement["scriptProcessor"] = @"C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe";
         addElement["resourceType"] = @"Either";
         addElement["requireAccess"] = @"Script";
         handlersCollection.AddAt(0, addElement);

         serverManager.CommitChanges();
      }
   }
}

VB.NET

Imports System
Imports System.Text
Imports Microsoft.Web.Administration

Module Sample

   Sub Main()
      Dim serverManager As ServerManager = New ServerManager
      Dim config As Configuration = serverManager.GetApplicationHostConfiguration

      Dim fastCgiSection As ConfigurationSection = config.GetSection("system.webServer/fastCgi")
      Dim fastCgiCollection As ConfigurationElementCollection = fastCgiSection.GetCollection
      Dim applicationElement As ConfigurationElement = fastCgiCollection.CreateElement("application")
      applicationElement("fullPath") = "C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
      applicationElement("arguments") = ""
      applicationElement("maxInstances") = 4
      applicationElement("idleTimeout") = 300
      applicationElement("activityTimeout") = 30
      applicationElement("requestTimeout") = 90
      applicationElement("instanceMaxRequests") = 10000
      applicationElement("protocol") = "NamedPipe"
      applicationElement("flushNamedPipe") = False

      Dim environmentVariablesCollection As ConfigurationElementCollection = applicationElement.GetCollection("environmentVariables")
      Dim environmentVariableElement As ConfigurationElement = environmentVariablesCollection.CreateElement("environmentVariable")
      environmentVariableElement("name") = "PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS"
      environmentVariableElement("value") = "10000"
      environmentVariablesCollection.Add(environmentVariableElement)
      fastCgiCollection.Add(applicationElement)

      Dim handlersSection As ConfigurationSection = config.GetSection("system.webServer/handlers")
      Dim handlersCollection As ConfigurationElementCollection = handlersSection.GetCollection
      Dim addElement As ConfigurationElement = handlersCollection.CreateElement("add")
      addElement("name") = "PHP-FastCGI"
      addElement("path") = "*.php"
      addElement("verb") = "GET,HEAD,POST"
      addElement("modules") = "FastCgiModule"
      addElement("scriptProcessor") = "C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
      addElement("resourceType") = "Either"
      addElement("requireAccess") = "Script"
      handlersCollection.AddAt(0, addElement)

      serverManager.CommitChanges()
   End Sub

End Module

JavaScript

var adminManager = new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager');
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST";

var fastCgiSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.webServer/fastCgi", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST");
var fastCgiCollection = fastCgiSection.Collection;
var applicationElement = fastCgiCollection.CreateNewElement("application");
applicationElement.Properties.Item("fullPath").Value = "C:\\PHP\\php-cgi.exe";
applicationElement.Properties.Item("arguments").Value = "";
applicationElement.Properties.Item("maxInstances").Value = 4;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("idleTimeout").Value = 300;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("activityTimeout").Value = 30;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("requestTimeout").Value = 90;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("instanceMaxRequests").Value = 10000;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("protocol").Value = "NamedPipe";
applicationElement.Properties.Item("queueLength").Value = 1000;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("flushNamedPipe").Value = false;
applicationElement.Properties.Item("rapidFailsPerMinute").Value = 10;

var environmentVariablesCollection = applicationElement.ChildElements.Item("environmentVariables").Collection;
var environmentVariableElement = environmentVariablesCollection.CreateNewElement("environmentVariable");
environmentVariableElement.Properties.Item("name").Value = "PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS";
environmentVariableElement.Properties.Item("value").Value = "10000";
environmentVariablesCollection.AddElement(environmentVariableElement);
fastCgiCollection.AddElement(applicationElement);

var handlersSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.webServer/handlers", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST");
var handlersCollection = handlersSection.Collection;
var addElement = handlersCollection.CreateNewElement("add");
addElement.Properties.Item("name").Value = "PHP-FastCGI";
addElement.Properties.Item("path").Value = "*.php";
addElement.Properties.Item("verb").Value = "GET,HEAD,POST";
addElement.Properties.Item("modules").Value = "FastCgiModule";
addElement.Properties.Item("scriptProcessor").Value = "C:\\PHP\\php-cgi.exe";
addElement.Properties.Item("resourceType").Value = "Either";
addElement.Properties.Item("requireAccess").Value = "Script";
handlersCollection.AddElement(addElement, 0);

adminManager.CommitChanges();

VBScript

Set adminManager = WScript.CreateObject("Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager")
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST"

Set fastCgiSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.webServer/fastCgi", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST")
Set fastCgiCollection = fastCgiSection.Collection
Set applicationElement = fastCgiCollection.CreateNewElement("application")
applicationElement.Properties.Item("fullPath").Value = "C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
applicationElement.Properties.Item("arguments").Value = ""
applicationElement.Properties.Item("maxInstances").Value = 4
applicationElement.Properties.Item("idleTimeout").Value = 300
applicationElement.Properties.Item("activityTimeout").Value = 30
applicationElement.Properties.Item("requestTimeout").Value = 90
applicationElement.Properties.Item("instanceMaxRequests").Value = 10000
applicationElement.Properties.Item("protocol").Value = "NamedPipe"
applicationElement.Properties.Item("queueLength").Value = 1000
applicationElement.Properties.Item("flushNamedPipe").Value = false
applicationElement.Properties.Item("rapidFailsPerMinute").Value = 10

Set environmentVariablesCollection = applicationElement.ChildElements.Item("environmentVariables").Collection
Set environmentVariableElement = environmentVariablesCollection.CreateNewElement("environmentVariable")
environmentVariableElement.Properties.Item("name").Value = "PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS"
environmentVariableElement.Properties.Item("value").Value = "10000"
environmentVariablesCollection.AddElement(environmentVariableElement)
Call fastCgiCollection.AddElement(applicationElement)

Set handlersSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.webServer/handlers", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST")
Set handlersCollection = handlersSection.Collection
Set addElement = handlersCollection.CreateNewElement("add")
addElement.Properties.Item("name").Value = "PHP-FastCGI"
addElement.Properties.Item("path").Value = "*.php"
addElement.Properties.Item("verb").Value = "GET,HEAD,POST"
addElement.Properties.Item("modules").Value = "FastCgiModule"
addElement.Properties.Item("scriptProcessor").Value = "C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe"
addElement.Properties.Item("resourceType").Value = "Either"
addElement.Properties.Item("requireAccess").Value = "Script"
Call handlersCollection.AddElement(addElement, 0)

adminManager.CommitChanges()