Stop Visual Studio 2013 modifying the IISExpress applicationHost.config

Question

I have a website project using Visual Studio 2013, and each time I open it, it keeps adding a new entry for the website project in applicationHost.config. I use IISExpress for my development, however I always create a custom entry to provide some specifics and I have it configured to use port 80, so I would like to not have Visual Studio make any modifications to this file.

I have gone into Tools > Options > Web Projects and unchecked "Use the 64 bit version of IIS Express for web sites and projects", closed the solution, removed the entry from applicationHost.config and re-opened the project in Visual Studio, however it still continues to add an entry to applicationHost.config and name my website project whatever that entry is named.

Is there a way to disconnect Visual Studio entirely from IISExpress? I like using it, but I want to control that service and configuration myself.

Answer 1

Inside the bindings section of the site section, create a new binding in addition to the localhost version like so:

 <bindings>      <binding protocol="http" bindingInformation="*:21232:localhost" />      <binding protocol="http" bindingInformation="*:21232:*" />  </bindings> 

After having both lines, VS stopped making new site sections.

Answer 2

How to: Specify a Port for the Development Server

I just tried out the method described in the above msdn article to change the port IIS express uses (didn't try 80 though).

1. right click the website in solution explorer, remove (won't delete files)
2. edit the applicationHost.config file, change the binding
3. "add existing web site" in Visual Studio (point to the folder of site you previously removed)

At that point it doesn't seem to create a new entry in applicationHost.config, and uses the new port.