Update: The original question was for Windows Server 2008, but the solution is easier for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 (and Windows 7 and 8). You can add the user through the NTFS UI by typing it in directly. The name is in the format of IIS APPPOOL\{app pool name}. For example: IIS APPPOOL\DefaultAppPool.
IIS APPPOOL\{app pool name}
Note: Per comments below, there are two things to be aware of:
- Enter the string directly into the "Select User or Group" and not in the search field.
- In a domain environment you need to set the Location to your local computer first.
Reference to Microsoft Docs article: Application Pool Identities > Securing Resources
Original response: (for Windows Server 2008) This is a great feature, but as you mentioned it's not fully implemented yet. You can add the app pool identity from the command prompt with something like icacls, then you can manage it from the GUI. For example, run something like this from the command prompt:
icacls c:\inetpub\wwwroot /grant "IIS APPPOOL\DefaultAppPool":(OI)(CI)(RX)
Then, in Windows Explorer, go to the wwwroot folder and edit the security permissions. You will see what looks like a group (the group icon) called DefaultAppPool. You can now edit the permissions.
However, you don't need to use this at all. It's a bonus that you can use if you want. You can use the old way of creating a custom user per app pool and assigning the custom user to disk. That has full UI support.
This SID injection method is nice because it allows you to use a single user but fully isolate each site from each other without having to create unique users for each app pool. Pretty impressive, and it will be even better with UI support.
Note: If you are unable to find the application pool user, check to see if the Windows service called Application Host Helper Service is running. It's the service that maps application pool users to Windows accounts.
From Server Manager (available under Administrative Tools), go to "Features", then "Add Features".
Windows Server 2008 Standard Instructions:
Expand:
- Remote Server Administration Tools
- Role Administration Tools
- Active Directory Domain Services Tools
Then check Active Directory Domain Controller Tools.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Instructions:
Expand:
- Remote Server Administration Tools
- Role Administration Tools
Then check AD DS Snap-Ins and Command-Line Tools.
Feature Includes:
- Active Directory Users and Computers
- Active Directory Domains and Trusts
- Active Directory Sites and Services
Best Answer
The "SC" command can do everything (and more) that the old INSTSRV could do. The command-line syntax is a bit strange (with the spaces after all the equals signs), but it works fine.
SRVANY can be found around the 'net and will work in W2K8, but if you want an alternative that can be legally re-distributed, look at the Non-Sucking Service Manager.