Download the URL Rewrite module

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 4 views

URL Rewriting in IIS: A Guide to Avoiding 404 Errors

When developing web applications, it's not uncommon to encounter issues with URL rewriting, particularly when using a local IIS instance as a proxy for a Tomcat server. In this article, we'll explore the concept of URL rewriting in IIS and provide a step-by-step guide on how to configure it to avoid 404 errors.

URL rewriting is a technique used to modify the URL of a web page without changing the actual file or resource being requested. This can be useful for various purposes, such as:

SEO optimization: By rewriting URLs to include relevant keywords, you can improve your website's search engine ranking.
Friendly URLs: Rewriting URLs to make them more user-friendly can improve the overall user experience.
Redirecting URLs: URL rewriting can be used to redirect users from one URL to another, which can be useful for migrating websites or updating URLs.

To configure URL rewriting in IIS, you'll need to use the URL Rewrite module, which is a free extension available for download from the Microsoft website. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to configure URL rewriting in IIS:

Step 1: Install the URL Rewrite Module

To install the URL Rewrite module, follow these steps:

Download the URL Rewrite module: Go to the Microsoft website and download the URL Rewrite module.
Install the module: Run the installer and follow the prompts to install the module.
Restart IIS: After installing the module, restart the IIS service to ensure that the changes take effect.

Step 2: Create a Rewrite Rule

To create a rewrite rule, follow these steps:

Open the IIS Manager: Open the IIS Manager and navigate to the website for which you want to create a rewrite rule.
Click on the "URL Rewrite" icon: In the IIS Manager, click on the "URL Rewrite" icon in the "Features View" section.
Click on the "Add Rule(s)" button: Click on the "Add Rule(s)" button to create a new rewrite rule.
Select the rule template: Select the rule template that best fits your needs. For example, you can select the "Redirect to a different URL" template to redirect users from one URL to another.
Configure the rule: Configure the rule by specifying the conditions, actions, and patterns that you want to use.

Step 3: Test the Rewrite Rule

To test the rewrite rule, follow these steps:

Test the URL: Test the URL that you want to rewrite by accessing it in a web browser.
Verify the result: Verify that the URL is rewritten correctly and that the user is redirected to the correct page.

If you encounter issues with URL rewriting, here are some troubleshooting steps you can take:

Check the rewrite rule: Check the rewrite rule to ensure that it's configured correctly.
Check the conditions: Check the conditions to ensure that they're set up correctly.
Check the actions: Check the actions to ensure that they're set up correctly.
Check the patterns: Check the patterns to ensure that they're set up correctly.
Test the URL: Test the URL to ensure that it's rewritten correctly.

In this article, we've explored the concept of URL rewriting in IIS and provided a step-by-step guide on how to configure it to avoid 404 errors. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to configure URL rewriting in IIS and avoid 404 errors.

Here are some common issues that you may encounter with URL rewriting:

404 errors: If you encounter 404 errors, it may be due to a misconfigured rewrite rule or a missing condition.
Redirect loops: If you encounter redirect loops, it may be due to a misconfigured rewrite rule or a missing condition.
Incorrect URL rewriting: If you encounter incorrect URL rewriting, it may be due to a misconfigured rewrite rule or a missing condition.

Here are some best practices for URL rewriting:

Use a consistent naming convention: Use a consistent naming convention for your rewrite rules to make them easier to manage.
Use a clear and concise description: Use a clear and concise description for your rewrite rules to make them easier to understand.
Test the rewrite rule: Test the rewrite rule to ensure that it's working correctly.
Monitor the rewrite rule: Monitor the rewrite rule to ensure that it's working correctly and to identify any issues.

In conclusion, URL rewriting is a powerful technique that can be used to modify the URL of a web page without changing the actual file or resource being requested. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to configure URL rewriting in IIS and avoid 404 errors. Remember to follow best practices for URL rewriting and to test and monitor your rewrite rules to ensure that they're working correctly.
URL Rewriting in IIS: A Q&A Guide

In our previous article, we explored the concept of URL rewriting in IIS and provided a step-by-step guide on how to configure it to avoid 404 errors. However, we understand that you may still have questions about URL rewriting. In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about URL rewriting in IIS.

A: URL rewriting is a technique used to modify the URL of a web page without changing the actual file or resource being requested. This can be useful for various purposes, such as SEO optimization, friendly URLs, and redirecting URLs.

A: You may need to use URL rewriting for various reasons, such as:

SEO optimization: By rewriting URLs to include relevant keywords, you can improve your website's search engine ranking.
Friendly URLs: Rewriting URLs to make them more user-friendly can improve the overall user experience.
Redirecting URLs: URL rewriting can be used to redirect users from one URL to another, which can be useful for migrating websites or updating URLs.

A: To configure URL rewriting in IIS, you'll need to use the URL Rewrite module, which is a free extension available for download from the Microsoft website. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to configure URL rewriting in IIS:

Download the URL Rewrite module: Go to the Microsoft website and download the URL Rewrite module.
Install the module: Run the installer and follow the prompts to install the module.
Restart IIS: After installing the module, restart the IIS service to ensure that the changes take effect.
Create a rewrite rule: Create a new rewrite rule by clicking on the "Add Rule(s)" button in the IIS Manager.
Configure the rule: Configure the rule by specifying the conditions, actions, and patterns that you want to use.

A: Some common issues with URL rewriting include:

404 errors: If you encounter 404 errors, it may be due to a misconfigured rewrite rule or a missing condition.
Redirect loops: If you encounter redirect loops, it may be due to a misconfigured rewrite rule or a missing condition.
Incorrect URL rewriting: If you encounter incorrect URL rewriting, it may be due to a misconfigured rewrite rule or a missing condition.

A: To troubleshoot URL rewriting issues, follow these steps:

Check the rewrite rule: Check the rewrite rule to ensure that it's configured correctly.
Check the conditions: Check the conditions to ensure that they're set up correctly.
Check the actions: Check the actions to ensure that they're set up correctly.
Check the patterns: Check the patterns to ensure that they're set up correctly.
Test the URL: Test the URL to ensure that it's rewritten correctly.

A: Some best practices for URL rewriting include:

Use a consistent naming convention: Use a consistent naming convention for your rewrite rules to make them easier to manage.
Use a clear and concise description: Use a clear and concise description for your rewrite rules to make them easier to understand.
Test the rewrite rule: Test the rewrite rule to ensure that it's working correctly.
Monitor the rewrite rule: Monitor the rewrite rule to ensure that it's working correctly and to identify any issues.