Application Error: Access to the path 'C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\arcgis\WebAdaptor.config' is denied

Error Message

After entering values in the configuration page for the IIS Web Adaptor and clicking the Configure button, the following error is returned:

"Application Error: Access to the path ‘C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\arcgis\WebAdaptor.config’ is denied."

Cause

When the IIS Web Adaptor is installed, it creates a new application pool in IIS called ArcGISWebAdaptorAppPool. The setup is failing to give the identity of this application pool the necessary permissions to the WebAdaptor.config file that is referenced in the error message.

Solution or Workaround

The steps for solving this problem are slightly different depending on the operating system.

Instructions for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

1. Navigate to C:\inetpub\wwwroot\arcgis or the location referenced in the error message.
2. Right-click the WebAdaptor.config file and click Properties.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Check whether the setup program has given the ArcGISWebAdaptorAppPool account permissions to write to the Webadaptor.config file

5. If ArcGISWebAdaptorAppPool is not listed as a user on the Security tab, click the Edit button.
6. Click Add.
7. Click the Locations button.
8. Select the item that represents the name of the computer and click OK.
9. In the box at the bottom, enter 'IIS APPPOOL\ArcGISWebAdaptorAppPool' without the single quotes and click the Check Names button. Click OK.
10. Give 'Full Control' permissions to ArcGISWebAdaptorAppPool.
11. Click Apply and OK to all dialogs.
12. Open the Web Adaptor configuration page again and try registering the GIS Server machine.

Instructions for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

1. Navigate to C:\inetpub\wwwroot\arcgis or the location referenced in the error message.
2. Right-click the WebAdaptor.config file and click Properties.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Check whether the setup program has given the Network Service account permissions to write to the WebAdaptor.config file.

5. If Network Service is not listed as a user on the Security tab, click the Edit button.
6. Click Add.
7. Click the Locations button.
8. Select the item that represents the name of the computer and click OK.
9. In the box at the bottom, enter Network Service and click the Check Names button. Click OK.
10. Give Full Control permissions to Network Service.
11. Click Apply and OK to all dialogs.
12. Open the Web Adaptor configuration page again and try registering the GIS Server machine.