How to Host WCF in IIS Server?. The Complete Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Developer Course 2023 [Videos].

Hosting a WCF service in IIS (Internet Information Services) is a step-by-step process. IIS Hosting is illustrated below in detail with the desired coding as well as screenshots to understand the process.

Step 1 âˆ’ Start Visual Studio 2012 and click File → New → Web site. Select “WCF Service” and Location as http. This will host the service in IIS. Click OK.

Step 2 âˆ’ The code behind the interface is given below.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;
using System.ServiceModel;
using System.ServiceModel.Web;
using System.Text;

// NOTE: You can use the "Rename" command on the "Refactor" menu to 
// change the interface name "IService" in both code and config file 
// together.

[ServiceContract]
Public interface IService {
   [OperationContract]
   String GetData(int value);

   [OperationContract]
   CompositeType GetDataUsingDataContract(CompositeType composite);

   // TODO: Add your service operations here
}

// Use a data contract as illustrated in the sample below to add 
// composite types to service operations.

[DataContract]
Public class CompositeType {
   Bool boolValue = true;
   String stringValue = "Hello ";

   [DataMember]
   Public bool BoolValue {
      get { return boolValue; }
      set { boolValue = value; }
   }

   [DataMember]
   Public string StringValue {
      get { return stringValue; }
      set { stringValue = value; }
   }
}

Step 3 âˆ’ The code behind the class file is given below.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.Serialization;
using System.ServiceModel;
using System.ServiceModel.Web;
using System.Text;

// NOTE: You can use the "Rename" command on the "Refactor" menu to 
// change the class name "Service" in code, svc and config file 
// together.

Public class Service : IService {
   Public string GetData(int value) {
      Return string.Format("You entered: {0}", value);
   }

   Public CompositeType GetDataUsingDataContract(CompositeType composite) {
      if(composite == null) {
         thrownewArgumentNullException("composite");
      }
      
      if(composite.BoolValue) {
         composite.StringValue += "Suffix";
      }
      return composite;
   }
}

Step 4 âˆ’ Service file (.svc) contains the name of the service and the code behind the file name. This file is used to know about the service.

<%@ ServiceHost Language = "C#" Debug = "true" Service = "Service" 
   CodeBehind = "~/App_Code/Service.cs" %>

Step 5 âˆ’ Server-side configurations are mentioned in the config file. Here, there is a mention of only one end-point which is configured to wsHttpBinding; we can also have multiple endpoints with different bindings. Since we are going to host in IIS, we have to use only http binding.

<?xml version = "1.0"?>
<configuration>
   <!-- 
      Note: As an alternative to hand editing this file you can use the 
         web admin tool to configure settings for your application. Use
         the Website->Asp.Net Configuration option in Visual Studio.
         A full list of settings and comments can be found in 
         machine.config.comments usually located in 
         WindowsMicrosoft.NetFrameworkvx.xConfig 
   -->
   <configSections>
      <sectionGroup name = "system.web.extensions"  
         ype = "System.Web.Configuration.SystemWebExtensionsSectionGroup, 
         System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
         PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35">
      
         <sectionGroup name = "scripting" 
            type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingSectionGroup, 
            System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral,     
            PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35">
      
            <section name = "scriptResourceHandler" 
               type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingScriptResourceHandlerSection, 
               System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
               Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35" 
               requirePermission = "false" 
               allowDefinition = "MachineToApplication"/>
      
            <sectionGroup name = "webServices" 
               type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingWebServicesSectionGroup, 
               System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
               Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35">
   
               <section name = "jsonSerialization" 
                  type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingJsonSerializationSection, 
                  System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
                  Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35" 
                  requirePermission = "false" allowDefinition = "Everywhere"/>

               <section name = "profileService" 
                  type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingProfileServiceSection, 
                  System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
                  Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35" 
                  requirePermission = "false" 
                  allowDefinition = "MachineToApplication"/>

               <section name = "authenticationService" 
                  type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingAuthenticationServiceSection, 
                  System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
                  Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35" 
                  requirePermission = "false" 
                  allowDefinition = "MachineToApplication"/>

               <section name = "roleService" 
                  type = "System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingRoleServiceSection, 
                  System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
                  Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35" 
                  requirePermission = "false" 
                  allowDefinition = "MachineToApplication"/>
      
            </sectionGroup>
         </sectionGroup>
      </sectionGroup>
   </configSections>
   
<appSettings/>
   <connectionStrings/>
   <system.web>
      <!-- 
         Set compilation debug="true" to insert debugging 
         symbols into the compiled page. Because this 
         affects performance, set this value to true only 
         during development.
      -->
      
      <compilation debug = "true">
         <assemblies> 
         
            <add assembly = "System.Core, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
               PublicKeyToken = B77A5C561934E089"/>
            
            <add assembly = "System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
               Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
            
            <add assembly = "System.Data.DataSetExtensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
               Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = B77A5C561934E089"/>
            
            <add assembly = "System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
               Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
            
            <add assembly = "System.Xml.Linq, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
               PublicKeyToken = B77A5C561934E089"/>
            
         </assemblies>
      </compilation>
      
         <!--
            The <authentication> section enables configuration 
            of the security authentication mode used by 
            ASP.NET to identify an incoming user. 
         -->
         
      <authentication mode="Windows"/>
         <!--
            The <customErrors> section enables configuration 
            of what to do if/when an unhandled error occurs 
            during the execution of a request. Specifically, 
            it enables developers to configure html error pages 
            to be displayed in place of a error stack trace.

            <customErrors mode = "RemoteOnly" defaultRedirect = "GenericErrorPage.htm">
               <error statusCode = "403" redirect = "NoAccess.htm" />
               <error statusCode = "404" redirect = "FileNotFound.htm" />
            </customErrors>
         -->
         
         <pages>
            <controls>
               <add tagPrefix = "asp" namespace = "System.Web.UI" 
                  assembly = "System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
                  Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
               
               <add tagPrefix = "asp" namespace = "System.Web.UI.WebControls" 
                  assembly = "System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, 
                  Culture = neutral, PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
               
            </controls>
         </pages>
         
         <httpHandlers>
            <remove verb = "*" path = "*.asmx"/>
            
            <add verb = "*" path = "*.asmx" validate = "false" 
               type = "System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptHandlerFactory, 
               System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
               PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
            
            <add verb = "*" path = "*_AppService.axd" validate = "false" 
               type = "System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptHandlerFactory, 
               System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral,
               PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
            
            <add verb = "GET,HEAD" path = "ScriptResource.axd" 
               type = "System.Web.Handlers.ScriptResourceHandler, 
               System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
               PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35" validate = "false"/>
         </httpHandlers>
         
         <httpModules>
            <add name = "ScriptModule" 
               type = "System.Web.Handlers.ScriptModule, 
               System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
               PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
         </httpModules>
   </system.web>
   
   <system.codedom>
      <compilers>
      
         <compiler language = "c#;cs;csharp" extension = ".cs" 
            warningLevel = "4" type = "Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider, 
            System, Version = 2.0.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
            PublicKeyToken = b77a5c561934e089">
         
            <providerOption name = "CompilerVersion" value = "v3.5"/>
            <providerOption name = "WarnAsError" value = "false"/>

         </compiler>

         <compiler language = "vb;vbs;visualbasic;vbscript" extension = ".vb" 
            warningLevel = "4" type = "Microsoft.VisualBasic.VBCodeProvider, 
            System, Version = 2.0.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
            PublicKeyToken = b77a5c561934e089">

            <providerOption name = "CompilerVersion" value = "v3.5"/>
            <providerOption name = "OptionInfer" value = "true"/>
            <providerOption name = "WarnAsError" value = "false"/>
            
         </compiler>
      </compilers>
      
   </system.codedom>
   <!-- 
      The system.webServer section is required for running ASP.NET AJAX 
      under Internet Information Services 7.0.  
      It is not necessary for previous version of IIS.
   -->
   <system.webServer>
      <validation validateIntegratedModeConfiguration="false"/>
      
      <modules>
         <remove name = "ScriptModule"/>
         <add name = "ScriptModule" preCondition = "managedHandler" 
            type = "System.Web.Handlers.ScriptModule, 
            System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
            PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
      </modules>
      
      <handlers>
         <remove name = "WebServiceHandlerFactory-Integrated"/>
         <remove name = "ScriptHandlerFactory"/>
         <remove name = "ScriptHandlerFactoryAppServices"/>
         <remove name = "ScriptResource"/>
         
         <add name = "ScriptHandlerFactory" verb = "*" path = "*.asmx" 
            preCondition = "integratedMode" 
            type = "System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptHandlerFactory, 
            System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
            PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>    
         
         <add name = "ScriptHandlerFactoryAppServices" 
            verb = "*" path = "*_AppService.axd" preCondition = "integratedMode" 
            type = "System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptHandlerFactory, 
            System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
            PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
         
         <add name = "ScriptResource" preCondition = "integratedMode" 
            verb = "GET,HEAD" path = "ScriptResource.axd" 
            type = "System.Web.Handlers.ScriptResourceHandler, 
            System.Web.Extensions, Version = 3.5.0.0, Culture = neutral, 
            PublicKeyToken = 31BF3856AD364E35"/>
      </handlers>
      
      <!--To browse web app root directory during debugging, 
         set the value below to true. Set to false before deployment to 
         avoid disclosing web app folder information.-->
      
      <directoryBrowse enabled = "true"/>
   </system.webServer>
   
   <runtime>
      <assemblyBinding appliesTo = "v2.0.05727" xmlns =" urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">
      
         <dependentAssembly>
            <assemblyIdentity name = "System.Web.Extensions" publicKeyToken = "31bf3856ad364e35"/>
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion = "1.0.0.0-1.1.0.0" newVersion = "3.5.0.0"/>
         </dependentAssembly>
         
         <dependentAssembly>
            <assemblyIdentity name = "System.Web.Extensions.Design" publicKeyToken =" 31bf3856ad364e35"/>
            <bindingRedirect oldVersion = "1.0.0.0-1.1.0.0" newVersion = "3.5.0.0"/>
         </dependentAssembly>
         
      </assemblyBinding>
   </runtime>
   
   <system.serviceModel>
      <services>
         <service name = "Service" behaviorConfiguration = "ServiceBehavior">
         <!-- Service Endpoints -->
            <endpoint address = "" binding = "basicHttpBinding" contract = "IService">
               <!-- 
                  Upon deployment, the following identity element should be removed or replaced 
                  to reflect the identity under which the deployed service runs. If removed, 
                  WCF will infer an appropriate identity automatically.
               -->

               <identity>
                  <dns value="localhost"/>
               </identity>

            </endpoint>
            <endpoint address = "mex" binding = "mexHttpBinding" contract = "IMetadataExchange"/>
            
         </service>
      </services>
      
      <behaviors> 
         <serviceBehaviors>
            <behavior name = "ServiceBehavior">
               <!-- To avoid disclosing metadata information, set the value below 
                  to false before deployment -->
               
               <serviceMetadata httpGetEnabled = "true"/>
               
               <!-- To receive exception details in faults for debugging purposes, 
                  set the value below to true. 
                  Set to false before deployment to false avoid 
                  disclosing exception information -->
               
               <serviceDebug includeExceptionDetailInFaults = "false"/>
            </behavior>
         </serviceBehaviors>
      </behaviors>
      
   </system.serviceModel>
</configuration>

Step 6 âˆ’ You need to mention the service file name, along with the Address mentioned in the config file. The screenshot of IIS is given here.

Click Start → run → inetmgr which will open the following window.

Step 7 âˆ’ Run the application which will produce the following screen.