How to configure static content cache per folder and extension in IIS7?

145
votes

I would like to set up rules in IIS7 for static content caching in my ASP.NET website.

I have seen these articles, which details how to do it using the <clientCache /> element in web.config:

Client Cache <clientCache> (IIS.NET)
Add Expires or Cache Control Header to static content in IIS (Stack Overflow)

However, this setting appears to apply globally to all static content. Is there a way to do this just for certain directories or extensions?

For example, I may have two directories which need separate cache settings:

/static/images
/content/pdfs

Is it possible to set up rules for sending cache headers (max-age, expires, etc) based on extensions and folder paths?

Please note, I must be able to do this via web.config because I don't have access to the IIS console.

3
iisiis-7cachingweb-confighttp-headers

3 Answers

221
votes

You can set specific cache-headers for a whole folder in either your root web.config:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
  <!-- Note the use of the 'location' tag to specify which 
       folder this applies to-->
  <location path="images">
    <system.webServer>
      <staticContent>
        <clientCache cacheControlMode="UseMaxAge" cacheControlMaxAge="00:00:15" />
      </staticContent>
    </system.webServer>
  </location>
</configuration>

Or you can specify these in a web.config file in the content folder:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
  <system.webServer>
    <staticContent>
      <clientCache cacheControlMode="UseMaxAge" cacheControlMaxAge="00:00:15" />
    </staticContent>
  </system.webServer>
</configuration>

I'm not aware of a built in mechanism to target specific file types.

70
votes

You can do it on a per file basis. Use the path attribute to include the filename

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
    <location path="YourFileNameHere.xml">
        <system.webServer>
            <staticContent>
                <clientCache cacheControlMode="DisableCache" />
            </staticContent>
        </system.webServer>
    </location>
</configuration>
-2
votes

I had the same issue.For me the problem was how to configure a cache limit to images.And i came across this site which gave some insights to the procedure on how the issue can be handled.Hope it will be helpful for you too Link:[https://varvy.com/pagespeed/cache-control.html]