Getting a 404 from WMSvc via MSDeploy.exe

Question

In case someone else is having the same issues than what I am having, I also got the same 404 error. The quickest way I found to check was to go on the server itself, and open up "https://<servername>:8172/MsDeploy.axd". Chrome & Firefox just showed a blank page, so I had to use the Network tab of the developer tools (F12) to see the actual 404 error message.

Somehow, while installing Web Deploy 3.0 from the Web Platform Installer, the IIS 7 Deployment Handler didn't get installed, even though the IIS Manager UI Module did. In my case, I downloaded the Web Deployment Tool Installation .msi from the following link: Web Deployment Tool Installation. Then I had to go back to IIS Admin Tool (Start -> Run -> inetmgr.exe) > {server name} > click on Management Service icon, and restart the management service before the MsDeploy.axd handler started working.

Enabling IIS Deployment Handler + Remote Agent Service

Have you installed Web Deploy on the server? Web Deploy registers a handler (/msdeploy.axd) with WMSVC, so a 404 would be the expected status code if it weren't installed.

On Windows 2012 R2 Server I followed mga911's advice.

I was stuck getting deploys working. Had installed Web Deploy 3.5 -> Enabled Management Service Delegation -> Ensured Services were started. The problem was the IIS Deployment handler had not been installed. Going through Web PI 4.6 I was not given the opportunity to install the IIS deployment handler. You need to go into the control panel -> Programs and Features Change Web Deploy 3.5's installation. Please note my instructions. In the change process it indicates all the sub packages will be installed but the text message says 0 of 3 sub components will be installed. One of those components is the IIS handler. Read carefully because I didn't and was frustrated :)

• Control Panel > Programs and Features
• Right Click on Microsoft Web Deploy 3.5
  • Select Change > click next > click change
  • You'll notice when Web Deployment Framework is selected you'll see in the message "It has 0 of 3 subfeatures selected"
  • Click on drop down select "Entire feature will be installed on local hard drive"
  • Next > Change >Finish

One important point I think is that you have to turn on the Management service first and then install Web Deploy.

I did it the other way around and it didn't work.

Only by reinstalling Web deploy did it start working.

When I installed Web Deploy via the web platform installer the Handler was not selected. I had to manually install Web Deploy 3.0, click"change" and then select the Handler to be installed.