Yes, all of our Windows shared hosting packages support Microsoft's Web Deploy Publishing for Microsoft Web Matrix and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010+. Under each websites settings you will find a tab called "Web Publishing", you can enable this feature here, as well as create your publishing credentials and profile.

This support enables developers to deploy ASP.NET applications directly from their IDE without relying on traditional FTP methods. Web Deploy offers intelligent file synchronization, the ability to publish only what has changed, parameter-based configuration, and support for deploying SQL databases along with the site content. It's an essential tool for efficient web application lifecycle management on IIS-based hosting environments.

#What is Microsoft Web Deploy?

Web Deploy is Microsoft's technology for simplifying the migration, management, and deployment of web applications to IIS. It provides an integrated way to deploy not just files but also IIS settings, certificates, GAC assemblies, and database updates. When integrated with Visual Studio, it allows you to publish with a single click after initial setup, making it ideal for both small projects and enterprise applications.

#Prerequisites

  • An active Windows shared hosting package
  • Visual Studio 2010 or higher installed on your workstation
  • Microsoft WebMatrix (optional, for lighter projects)
  • A web project developed with compatible .NET Framework targeting IIS

#Enabling the Web Publishing Feature

Activation is straightforward and done individually for each site you host. Begin by accessing your website management area in the hosting dashboard. Select the specific domain or application, then switch to the Web Publishing section. Toggle the enable option for Microsoft Web Deploy. Proceed to create a dedicated publishing user account and password. This separation of credentials adds a layer of security by not exposing your primary account details to the deployment process. After saving, download the generated profile which Visual Studio and other tools will use to connect.

#Deploying with Visual Studio

Import the profile into Visual Studio's publishing wizard. This auto-populates most fields including the service URL, site name, and authentication details. Validate the connection to confirm Web Deploy is operational on the server side. You can then customize options such as which files to delete on the target, database connection strings, and web.config transformations before initiating the deployment.

xml 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<publishData>
  <publishProfile 
    publishMethod="MSDeploy"
    publishUrl="https://your-endpoint.example.com:8172/MsDeploy.axd?site=YourSite"
    msdeploySite="YourSite"
    userName="publishuser123"
    userPWD="ComplexP@ssw0rdHere" />
</publishData>

#Troubleshooting and Best Practices

  • Always use the exact credentials created in the Web Publishing tab. Account passwords will not work for Web Deploy.
  • If you encounter 401 unauthorized errors, verify the publishing user is enabled and has not been locked due to failed attempts.
  • For database deployment, ensure connection strings in your profile match the ones provided in the hosting database manager.

Web Deploy on shared hosting accelerates your release cycle and reduces human error in file transfers. Take time to explore advanced options like sync rules and skip lists for optimized deployments. Test connections thoroughly before publishing production changes.