Default FTP Directory Browse Settings <directoryBrowse>

Overview

The <directoryBrowse> element is used to specify the content settings for directory browsing on FTP sites. When you configure directory browsing options, all directories in an FTP site will use the same settings. The directory browsing settings will typically only affect command-line FTP clients, but may impact some graphical FTP clients. For example, a graphical FTP client might not work with the MS-DOS style of directory listings, in which case you would need to configure the UNIX directory listing style.

Compatibility

Version Notes
IIS 10.0 The <directoryBrowse> element was not modified in IIS 10.0.
IIS 8.5 The <directoryBrowse> element was not modified in IIS 8.5.
IIS 8.0 The <directoryBrowse> element was not modified in IIS 8.0.
IIS 7.5 The <directoryBrowse> element of the <ftpServer> element ships as a feature of IIS 7.5.
IIS 7.0 The <directoryBrowse> element of the <ftpServer> element was introduced in FTP 7.0, which was a separate download for IIS 7.0.
IIS 6.0 N/A

Note

The FTP 7.0 and FTP 7.5 services shipped out-of-band for IIS 7.0, which required downloading and installing the modules from the following URL:

https://www.iis.net/expand/FTP

With Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the FTP 7.5 service ships as a feature for IIS 7.5, so downloading the FTP service is no longer necessary.

Setup

To support FTP publishing for your Web server, you must install the FTP service. To do so, use the following steps.

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), and then select FTP Server.

    Note

    To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will need to select FTP Extensibility, in addition to FTP Service.
    Screenshot of the Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R 2 window showing Roles. F T P Extensibility is highlighted. .

  5. Click Next, and then on the Select features page, click Next again.

  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, and then select FTP Server.

    Note

    To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will also need to select FTP Extensibility.
    Screenshot of the Window 8 or 8.1 features screen. F T P Extensibility is highlighted.

  4. Click OK.

  5. Click Close.

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, expand FTP Server.

  5. Select FTP Service.

    Note

    To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will also need to select FTP Extensibility.
    Screenshot of the Windows Server 2008 R 2 Add Role Services screen. F T P Service is highlighted.

  6. Click Next.

  7. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.

  8. On the Results page, click Close.

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, and then FTP Server.

  4. Select FTP Service.

    Note

    To support ASP.Membership authentication or IIS Manager authentication for the FTP service, you will also need to select FTP Extensibility.
    Screenshot of the Windows 7 features window. F T P options are checked in the Internet Information Services section.

  5. Click OK.

Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista

  1. Download the installation package from the following URL:

  2. Follow the instructions in the following walkthrough to install the FTP service:

How To

How to configure FTP directory browsing

  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, expand the server name, and then go to the site, application, or directory where you want to configure directory browsing.

  3. In the Home pane, double-click FTP Directory Browsing.
    Screenshot of the I I S Manager window showing the site home F T P options in the main pane. F T P Directory Browsing is highlighted.

  4. Configure the following options:

    • Click to select UNIX for the Directory Listing Style.
    • Click to select Virtual directories.
    • Click to select Available bytes.
      Screenshot of the I I S Manager window showing F T P Directory Browsing in the main pane.
  5. Click Apply in the Actions pane.

Configuration

Attributes

Attribute Description
showFlags Optional flags attribute.

Specifies the options for directory listings.
Name Value
LongDate Specifies whether to show long dates or short dates.

The numeric value is 2.
StyleUnix Specifies whether to display UNIX-style directory listings; otherwise, displays MSDOS-style listings.

The numeric value is 4.
DisplayAvailableBytes Specifies whether to display the available bytes in directory listings.

The numeric value is 16.
DisplayVirtualDirectories Specifies whether to display virtual directories if set; otherwise, virtual directories are hidden.

The numeric value is 32.
UseGmtTime Specifies whether to display dates and times in GMT.

The numeric value is 64.
There is no default value.
virtualDirectoryTimeout Optional int attribute.

Specifies the maximum amount of time the FTP service will use to retrieve the timestamp information for virtual directories. If threshold is reached, or virtualDirectoryTimeout is set to 0, then the current date will be used instead.

The default value is 5.

Child Elements

None.

Configuration Sample

The following configuration sample displays an example <siteDefaults> element for a server that is configured to display UNIX-style directory listings and the available drive space for directory listings.

<siteDefaults>
   <ftpServer>
      <directoryBrowse showFlags="StyleUnix, DisplayAvailableBytes" />
   </ftpServer>
</siteDefaults>

Sample Code

The following code samples configure the FTP site defaults to display UNIX-style directory listings and the available drive space for directory listings.

AppCmd.exe

appcmd.exe set config -section:system.applicationHost/sites /siteDefaults.ftpServer.directoryBrowse.showFlags:"StyleUnix, DisplayAvailableBytes" /commit:apphost

Note

You must be sure to set the commit parameter to apphost when you use AppCmd.exe to configure these settings. This commits the configuration settings to the appropriate location section in the ApplicationHost.config file.

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 sitesSection = config.GetSection("system.applicationHost/sites");
            ConfigurationElement siteDefaultsElement = sitesSection.GetChildElement("siteDefaults");
            ConfigurationElement ftpServerElement = siteDefaultsElement.GetChildElement("ftpServer");

            ConfigurationElement directoryBrowseElement = ftpServerElement.GetChildElement("directoryBrowse");
            directoryBrowseElement["showFlags"] = @"StyleUnix, DisplayAvailableBytes";

            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 sitesSection As ConfigurationSection = config.GetSection("system.applicationHost/sites")
        Dim siteDefaultsElement As ConfigurationElement = sitesSection.GetChildElement("siteDefaults")
        Dim ftpServerElement As ConfigurationElement = siteDefaultsElement.GetChildElement("ftpServer")

        Dim directoryBrowseElement As ConfigurationElement = ftpServerElement.GetChildElement("directoryBrowse")
        directoryBrowseElement("showFlags") = "StyleUnix, DisplayAvailableBytes"

        serverManager.CommitChanges()
    End Sub

End Module

JavaScript

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

var sitesSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.applicationHost/sites", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST");
var siteDefaultsElement = sitesSection.ChildElements.Item("siteDefaults");
var ftpServerElement = siteDefaultsElement.ChildElements.Item("ftpServer");

var directoryBrowseElement = ftpServerElement.ChildElements.Item("directoryBrowse");
   directoryBrowseElement.Properties.Item("showFlags").Value = "StyleUnix, DisplayAvailableBytes";

adminManager.CommitChanges();

VBScript

Set adminManager = createObject("Microsoft.ApplicationHost.WritableAdminManager")
adminManager.CommitPath = "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST"
Set sitesSection = adminManager.GetAdminSection("system.applicationHost/sites", "MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST")
Set siteDefaultsElement = sitesSection.ChildElements.Item("siteDefaults")
Set ftpServerElement = siteDefaultsElement.ChildElements.Item("ftpServer")

Set directoryBrowseElement = ftpServerElement.ChildElements.Item("directoryBrowse")
   directoryBrowseElement.Properties.Item("showFlags").Value = "StyleUnix, DisplayAvailableBytes"

adminManager.CommitChanges()