No, ASPnix shared hosting services do not support Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions. Support for them was removed in Windows Server 2008 R2 with IIS 7.5, the operating system used by our web servers. This aligns with Microsoft's decision to deprecate the technology due to longstanding security issues and the availability of more secure publishing methods.

#What Were Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions?

Microsoft FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE) were server-side components that integrated with IIS to support Microsoft FrontPage, a WYSIWYG web design tool popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The extensions enabled direct HTTP-based publishing from the FrontPage client to the server, along with features such as form processing, guest books, hit counters, and remote site management. They eliminated the need for separate FTP access for many routine tasks and allowed non-developers to update live sites with minimal technical knowledge.

FPSE worked by installing CGI executables and specific directories (often prefixed with _vti_) on the web server. While convenient at the time, these components introduced complexity in server maintenance and created additional vectors for attack.

#Why Microsoft Removed Support

Microsoft deprecated FrontPage Server Extensions more than a decade ago. The components suffered from multiple vulnerabilities that were difficult to mitigate in evolving server environments. As web standards advanced toward open protocols and stricter security models, continuing to support FPSE became impractical. Official removal occurred with Windows Server 2008 R2 and IIS 7.5, reflecting a deliberate shift away from legacy proprietary extensions.

  • Documented remote code execution and privilege escalation vulnerabilities
  • Incompatibility with modern IIS request pipeline and authentication
  • Availability of standardized alternatives such as WebDAV
  • End of product support for FrontPage itself

Our shared hosting infrastructure follows these Microsoft platform decisions to maintain a secure, stable, and performant environment. The necessary FPSE binaries and configuration are not present on any of our web servers.

#Publishing Alternatives on ASPnix Shared Hosting

ASPnix shared customers should use standard file transfer and deployment methods that are fully compatible with our servers. The most straightforward and widely supported approach is FTP or FTPS. These protocols allow you to upload, download, and synchronize files between your local machine and the hosting account without relying on deprecated server extensions.

  • Graphical FTP clients such as FileZilla for drag-and-drop transfers with support for secure FTPS connections
  • Command-line tools or built-in publishing features in IDEs like Visual Studio configured for FTP targets
  • Local build processes for .NET applications followed by file upload of the compiled output

These methods provide equivalent or superior functionality while adhering to current security standards. They also integrate cleanly with version control workflows and automated build processes.

bash 
ftp youraccount.aspnix.com
user username@yourdomain.com
put index.html
bye

The example above shows basic command-line FTP usage to connect and upload a single file. Most users prefer GUI clients that handle connection profiles, recursive uploads, and synchronization.

#Migration and Best Practices

If migrating an older site that used FrontPage Server Extensions, first remove the _vti_cnf, _vti_pvt, _vti_bin, and _vti_log directories from your content. These folders contain metadata specific to FPSE and are unnecessary on modern IIS. Their presence can sometimes trigger handler conflicts or expose obsolete configuration.

After cleanup, validate that all pages, forms, and dynamic elements function correctly under current ASP.NET and IIS settings. Test thoroughly before making the site public. Our support team can provide guidance on IIS configuration and troubleshooting but cannot re-enable removed legacy components.

Takeaway: FrontPage Server Extensions are not available on ASPnix shared hosting due to their removal from the underlying Windows Server 2008 R2 and IIS 7.5 platform. Use FTP-based publishing with standard clients for reliable, secure content deployment. This approach ensures compatibility and avoids the security risks associated with the deprecated extensions.