Learn how to fix the ERROR_FILE_IN_USE deployment error in IIS. Our IIS Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.
How to Fix the ERROR_FILE_IN_USE Deployment Error in IIS
The `ERROR_FILE_IN_USE` is a common deployment error in IIS. It pops up when a file cannot be modified or replaced during web application deployment because an external process locks it. This error can disrupt deployment workflows, causing operational inefficiencies and service outages.
Impacts of the ERROR_FILE_IN_USE
- Halts the deployment process entirely.
- Prevents successful file updates or replacements.
- Leaves the application in an inconsistent state.
- Requires manual intervention to complete deployment.
- Potential prolonged outages.
- It needs file lock release before proceeding.
- Repeated failures can congest system resources.
- Unresolved file locks increase system overhead.
- This can lead to memory and process management issues.
- CI/CD pipelines may face random deployment failures.
- Introduces unpredictability in automation workflows.
- Requires intricate workaround strategies.
- Blocks web application updates.
- Often needs manual application pool recycling.
- It also may cause server restarts.
- Causes synchronization issues between deployment tools and running processes.
Causes and Fixes
1. Application Process Lock
An active application process is holding a lock on the file.
Click here for the Solution.
Stop the application pool before deployment:
- First, we have to stop application pool. So, open IIS Manager.
- Then, go to Application Pools.
- Right-click the target application pool.
- Then, select Stop.
- After that, add an `app_offline.htm` file to the root by creating app_offline.htm file in website root directory.
For example, here is a PowerShell script example:
Stop-WebAppPool "YourAppPoolName"
Deploy-WebApplication
Start-WebAppPool "YourAppPoolName"
Here is the Azure DevOps Integration:
- task: IISWebAppManagementOnMachineGroup@0
inputs:
IISDeploymentType: 'IISApplicationPool'
ActionIISApplicationPool: 'StopAppPool'
StartStopRecycleAppPoolName: 'YourAppPool'
Remember to restart the application pool after deployment
2. Incomplete File Release
Files remain locked after previous operations.
Click here for the Solution.
- Implement a retry mechanism with deployment arguments:
msdeploy.exe -verb:sync -retryAttempts:10 -retryInterval:6000 - Also, ensure clean pre-deployment file cleanup by removing temporary files and clearing cached assemblies.
3. Insufficient Permissions
Deployment user lacks necessary file access rights.
Click here for the Solution.
- First, run Visual Studio/deployment tools as administrator.
- Then, configure user permissions:
icacls "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\YourSite" grant "DOMAIN\DeploymentUser":(OI)(CI)F - Next, verify Active Directory permissions by ensuring the user is part of the `IIS_IUSRS` group.
4. Background Processes
Background services maintain file locks.
Click here for the Solution.
- First, identify conflicting processes:
tasklist | findstr w3wp - Then, gracefully shut down processes:
Stop-Process -Name "w3wp" -Force - Use Process Monitor to detect file locks.
5. Configuration File Conflicts
Locked `web.config` files block deployment.
Click here for the Solution.
- Temporarily disable custom error configurations:
<configuration>
<system.web>
<customErrors mode="Off"/>
</system.web>
</configuration>
- Then, restore original settings after deployment.
6. Resource Contention
Simultaneous deployment attempts or competing processes.
Click here for the Solution.
- Implement deployment queuing.
- Then, ensure exclusive file access:
$file = New-Object System.IO.FileStream("path", [System.IO.FileMode]::Open, [System.IO.FileAccess]::Read, [System.IO.FileShare]::None)
- Also. add AppOffline rules for safe deployment:
<EnableMSDeployAppOffline>true</EnableMSDeployAppOffline>
<GenerateResourceNeverLockTypeAssemblies>true</GenerateResourceNeverLockTypeAssemblies>
Deployment Best Practices
To prevent future occurrences of `ERROR_FILE_IN_USE`, our Experts recommend these strategies:
- Use Process Monitor and IIS logs.
- Additionally, implement retry mechanisms.
- Ensure sequential deployments.
- Also, leverage blue-green deployment or containerization.
- Furthermore, use tools like Web Deploy (MSDeploy), PowerShell, and Azure DevOps Pipelines.
[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]
Conclusion
The `ERROR_FILE_IN_USE` error can be disruptive, but we can minimize its impact with the right troubleshooting techniques and deployment best practices.
In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix the ERROR_FILE_IN_USE Deployment Error in IIS
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