HTTP 500.19 Errors in IIS 7 - Site is on Mac and IIS is on VMWare Fusion/Parallel

I was tinkering around my IIS 7 which comes on my Windows 7 Guest on VMWare fusion. I have my web application stored on my Mac Drive and IIS on VMWare. Apparently, when I try to share the drive via VMWare share to Windows, and I try to browse the site, I get this error :


HTTP Error 500.19 - Internal Server Error
Description: The requested page cannot be accessed because the related configuration data for the page is invalid.
Error Code: 0x8007052e
Notification: BeginRequest
Module: IIS Web Core
Requested URL: http://localhost/
Logon User: Not yet determined

Logon Method: Not yet determined
Handler: Not yet determined
Config Error: Cannot read configuration file
Config File: \\?\UNC\vmware-host\webapp




So how I made it work ? We must not use VMWare sharing but instead use Mac OSX Samba Sharing.
MAC OS X Instructions

1. Create an account called IIS_UsrAccess on Mac OSX (or any account). Make sure that this is a sharing account for security. Remember the password you used on Mac OSX.
2. Go to System Preference -> Sharing
3. Tick on File Sharing
4. Click on Options
5. Tick : Share files and folders using SMB (Windows)
6. On the account below, choose IIS_UsrAccess
7. Click on Done
8. Add a the folder you want to share to Windows under Shared Folders
9. On the users, add IIS_UsrAccess and choose Read or Read and Write.
10. Close.
11. Browse the Folder via Finder
12. Under the folder you shared, right click and choose Get Info
13. Below, you would see Sharing and Permissions as shown here : 

14. Add iss_usraccess. Now depending on the priviledge you want to grant, it could be read only or read and write. 

15. Locate your web.config file on this app and do the same as point 14. If you want to manage web.config from IIS, choose read and write for iis_usraccess account.

Now we're done on Mac OSX. We will now go to windows.

1. Test first on your Windows if you are able to access the shared folder by going to Windows Explorer and \\\. Example, on my machine I typed \\MyMac\Web and I'm able to browse the folder.
2. Create an iis_usraccess account on Windows and use the same password you used on Mac OSX. This is to allow account pass through.
3. Once this is done, go to IIS Manager.
4. Create an Application by doing Add Application or Create a Virtual Directory by clicking Add Virtual Directoy (I Assumed you already have a site
5. On Alias, choose whatever alias you want. On Physical Path, choose \\\. 
6. Click on Connect As... and on new window, type in Specific User and then click on Set. Once Set is clicked, type in on the Username iis_usraccess and password of the user you created on windows and mac os x.
7. Once done, click on Test Settings.
8. It should be both green, meaning you are now able to browse the site.

Mother's day savings for VMWare Fusion 25% Off.

Hurry.. Avail of the Fusion discount... Just type in FusionSavings on the coupon when you check out and enjoy 25% off on your purchase...

http://app.connect.vmware.com/e/es.aspx?s=524&e=19486056&elq=b866baf30ad9412998b2f8fdf856dd93&OPENID=Browser

Check it out...

Offer valid until May 13, 2011

I've switched to VMWare Fusion because of Portability with VMWare Player

Ok, so Parallel Desktop is faster than VMWare Fusion. Given this fact, I've decided to switch to VMWare Fusion. Reason is : Portability and Cost.

I need my VM to work on Windows as well. Meaning that the VM that I created, I should be able to run on my office PC. Ofcourse, because its a property of the company that employs me, I cant possible buy a Parallel Desktop for Windows and install it there. And granted that I cant, I need to be cost conscious as well.

While Parallel seems faster than VMWare, VMWare is not bad at all when running on MacOSX. It does not hang my Mac and I can run it really side by side. On my experience, VMWare works for me, though ofcourse, because I'm running it professionally to work on my Visual Studio and others that I need which can be run only on Mac, I don't need those 3D acceleration, themes etc. so I did a tweak on my Guest OS. And after that, the difference is really not noticeable at all, in-fact it seems to be like I'm running Parallel.

I tried running my Guest OS on VMWare player and it works flawlessly. So this means, wherever I go, I can bring my VM and use that to work on anything.

Cost. VMWare Player is free. Going with Parallel means I need to Parallel on Mac and Windows which will cost me 200 dollars vs VMWare which costs me 79.99 (only Fusion). That's a big difference.

Also, I read on forums that upgrading Parallel actually costs you, while on VMWare, I can have a major version without a cost on me since I've subscribed on their 19.99 dollars subscription for 12 months. Since there's a talk of VMWare Fusion 4, that is a big savings for me. (I will save 39.99 dollars)

So there, reason why I moved to VMWare Fusion.

IOS 4.3.3 released - Includes Location-Based Tracking Fix ?

A new version 4.3.3 of IOS has just been released. This seems to include the issue with storing your location.

Here's the fix :





This update contains the changes to the iOS Crowd-Sourced location database cache.



- Reduces the size of the cache

- No longer backs up the cache to Itunes

- Deletes the cache entirely with Location Services is turned off.