If I make a change to the file:
%windir%\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config
and update it with a change resulting in a valid config, will it cause IIS7 to restart and force restarts on all the apps?
I am trying this out with a hot-cloned vm of the server, but like to know if anyone has experience of either of these scenarios, what the expected outcome should be.
Many thanks
Best Answer
I put together a short video on this just last week. It covers the differences between AppDomains and AppPools and what causes recycles. I walk through various setting changes that cause full recycles and AppDomain recycles. I also cover how you can tell if a recycle occurs and what the impact is.
The short answer is that it depends. 'Touching' applicationHost.config by itself won't cause any level of recycle, but certain config changes will. Any change to .NET's machine.config or root web.config will cause an AppDomain recycle on the server for that framework version. Any change to a site's web.config will cause an AppDomain recycle for that site.