When I modify URL Rewrite Rules or Rewrite Maps in the Default Web Site all applications running under the Default Web Site are restarted, killing all sessions and causing applications to execute potentially lengthy startup steps.
We are migrating a collection of sites running on a third-party portal product from Windows 2003 to Windows 2008. We have about 100 friendly URLs that are currently implemented as virtual directories with redirects to the unfriendly URL. On the new server, I'm trying to use URL Rewrite's Rewrite Maps to support this same functionality. I've implemented a rule with a rewrite map at the Default Web Site that works as expected. However, every time I modify the configuration of Rules or add a value to the Map, the Default Web Site and all child applications are restarted, so our third-party portal runs through all it's startup steps, and any users logged on to the web sites lose their sessions.
Our Communications team likes to come up with new friendly URLs and get them into production quickly, but I won't be able to modify the rules without interrupting the system.
Is there a way to use URL Rewrite to support the creation of new friendly URLs without restarting all the applications?