How to install IIS website in BA Installer

[Torchok19081986]

Installing IIS Website via WiX# / Bootstrapper Application (BA) – Set ProgramData Permissions & web.config Values

Good morning,

I am currently developing a Bootstrapper Application (BA) installer using WiX#.

My installer needs to:

Install an ASP.NET MVC + WebAPI website into IIS

Create a directory under
C:\ProgramData\MyWebsite

Set Windows access permissions on that directory:

Grant Read / Modify / Delete rights to:

IIS_IUSRS

IIS AppPool\MyWebsite

Modify certain values inside web.config

Optionally install PostgreSQL (including pgAdmin4) if selected by the administrator

Because of the optional PostgreSQL installation, I must use a Bootstrapper Application (BA). As far as I know, this cannot be done properly in a single MSI package.

My Questions

What is the recommended approach to:

Create and configure an IIS website from a BA?

Set NTFS permissions on ProgramData\MyWebsite for IIS_IUSRS and a specific AppPool identity?

Modify web.config values during installation?

Should this be done:

Inside a custom MSI?

Via PowerShell custom actions?

Directly from the BA?

Is there a best practice example for this scenario?

The website is ASP.NET MVC (.NET Framework 4.8), hosted in IIS.

Any guidance or example implementation would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Torchok19081986]

morning, i have description

public static class WebsiteMSIBuilder
{
    public static string BuildMsi()
    {
        var siteName = "BridgeTest";
        var appPoolName = "BridgeTest";

        // Website + AppPool (HTTP-Port kommt aus MSI Property)
        var webSite = new WebSite(siteName, "*:[HTTP_PORT]")
        {
            InstallWebSite = true
        };

        var appPool = new WebAppPool(appPoolName, "Identity=applicationPoolIdentity");
        
        var vdir = new IISVirtualDir
        {
            Alias = siteName,
            AppName = siteName,
            WebSite = webSite,
            WebAppPool = appPool
        };

        string brindgefiles = @"Bridge\bin\app.publish\*.*";

        var project = new Project("Bridge",
            new Dir(@"C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge",
                vdir,
                new Files(brindgefiles),

                // ACL: IIS_IUSRS + IIS AppPool\<AppPoolName>
                new DirPermission("IIS_IUSRS", GenericPermission.All),
                    new DirPermission($@"IIS AppPool\{appPoolName}", GenericPermission.All)))
                {
                    GUID = new Guid("EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D21115741"),

                    // Ports / Flags als MSI Properties (BA überschreibt später)
                    Properties = new []
                    {
                        new Property("HTTP_PORT", "80"),
                        new Property("ENABLE_HTTPS", "0"),
                        new Property("HTTPS_PORT", "443"),
                    }
                };

        project.UI = WUI.WixUI_InstallDir; 

        project.SetNetFxPrerequisite(Condition.Net48_Installed, "Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 wird benötigt.");

        //project.LaunchConditions.Add(new LaunchCondition("NOT IISMAJORVERSION OR IISMAJORVERSION < 7", "IIS 7.0 oder höher wird benötigt."));

        project.Platform = Platform.x86;
        //project.Language = "de-DE";
        
        project.InstallerVersion = 450;
        project.InstallScope = InstallScope.perMachine;

        project.EmitConsistentPackageId = true;
        project.ValidateBackgroundImage = false;
        project.PreserveTempFiles = true;

        project.ValidateBackgroundImage = false;

        project.MajorUpgradeStrategy = MajorUpgradeStrategy.Default;
        project.MajorUpgradeStrategy.PreventDowngradingVersions.OnlyDetect = false;
        project.MajorUpgradeStrategy.RemoveExistingProductAfter = Step.InstallInitialize;

        // Wichtig: IIS + Util Extension (IIS + Permissions)
        project.Include(WixExtension.IIs);
        project.Include(WixExtension.Util);
        project.Include(WixExtension.NetFx);

        project.WixSourceGenerated += Project_WixSourceGenerated;

        return project.BuildMsi();
    }

    private static void Project_WixSourceGenerated(XDocument document)
    {
        document.Root.Select("Product").AddElement("UIRef", "Id=WixUI_ErrorProgressText");
    }
}

whataever i do , i l always got 1603. Im msi log following entry :

Property(C): Help = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Areas\HelpPage\Views\Help
Property(C): VirtualMemory = 10310
Property(C): UpgradeCode = {EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D21115741}
Property(C): NETFRAMEWORK45 = #528049
Property(C): LicenseAccepted = 1
Property(C): INSTALLDIR = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge
Property(C): HelpPage = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Areas\HelpPage
Property(C): Views = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Areas\HelpPage\Views
Property(C): DisplayTemplates = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Areas\HelpPage\Views\Help\DisplayTemplates
Property(C): Shared = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Areas\HelpPage\Views\Shared
Property(C): bin = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\bin
Property(C): Images = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\bin\Content\Images
Property(C): de = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\bin\de
Property(C): roslyn = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\bin\roslyn
Property(C): Content.1 = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Content
Property(C): Images.1 = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Content\Images
Property(C): Scripts = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Services\Scripts
Property(C): Views.1 = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views
Property(C): Account = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Account
Property(C): Admin = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Admin
Property(C): Apikeys = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Apikeys
Property(C): Home = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Home
Property(C): Licenses = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Licenses
Property(C): Setup = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Setup
Property(C): Setup2_ = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Setup2
Property(C): Shared.1 = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Views\Shared
Property(C): TARGETDIR = D:
Property(C): WixUIRMOption = UseRM
Property(C): WIXUI_INSTALLDIR = INSTALLDIR
Property(C): ALLUSERS = 1
Property(C): ARPNOMODIFY = 1
Property(C): Areas = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Areas
Property(C): Content = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\bin\Content
Property(C): Services = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge\Services
Property(C): SourceDir = C:\ProgramData\Package Cache{EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D31115742}v1.0.0.0
Property(C): VersionNT = 1000
Property(C): HTTP_PORT = 80
Property(C): ENABLE_HTTPS = 0
Property(C): HTTPS_PORT = 443
Property(C): INSTALLDIR_ABSOLUTEPATH = C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Bridge
Property(C): Manufacturer = SmokingHead
Property(C): ProductCode = {EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D31115742}
Property(C): ProductLanguage = 1033
Property(C): ProductName = VTEBridge
Property(C): ProductVersion = 1.0.0.0
Property(C): DefaultUIFont = WixUI_Font_Normal
Property(C): WixUI_Mode = InstallDir
Property(C): ErrorDialog = ErrorDlg
Property(C): SecureCustomProperties = NETFRAMEWORK45;NEWPRODUCTFOUND;UPGRADEFOUND
Property(C): MsiHiddenProperties = CommitIIS7ConfigTransaction;CommitMetabaseTransaction;ConfigureIIs7Exec;ConfigureIIsExec;ExecSecureObjects;ExecSecureObjectsRollback;RollbackIIS7ConfigTransaction;RollbackMetabaseTransaction;StartIIS7ConfigTransaction;StartMetabaseTransaction;WriteIIS7ConfigChanges;WriteMetabaseChanges
Property(C): MsiLogFileLocation = C:\Users\ADMINI1.TES\AppData\Local\Temp\Bridge_20260304094332_000_BridgeMsi.log
Property(C): ProductState = -1
Property(C): PackageCode = {EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D31115742}
Property(C): PackagecodeChanging = 1
Property(C): ARPSYSTEMCOMPONENT = 1
Property(C): MSIFASTINSTALL = 7
Property(C): WIXBUNDLEORIGINALSOURCE = C:\Service.VTE\BridgeInstaller_1.1.0-x64.exe
Property(C): REBOOT = ReallySuppress
Property(C): CURRENTDIRECTORY = C:\Service.VTE
Property(C): CLIENTUILEVEL = 0
Property(C): MSICLIENTUSESEXTERNALUI = 1
Property(C): CLIENTPROCESSID = 1500
Property(C): VersionDatabase = 450
Property(C): MsiSystemRebootPending = 1
Property(C): VersionMsi = 5.00
Property(C): VersionNT64 = 1000
Property(C): WindowsBuild = 17763
Property(C): ServicePackLevel = 0
Property(C): ServicePackLevelMinor = 0
Property(C): MsiNTProductType = 3
Property(C): WindowsFolder = C:\Windows
Property(C): WindowsVolume = C:
Property(C): System64Folder = C:\Windows\system32
Property(C): SystemFolder = C:\Windows\SysWOW64
Property(C): RemoteAdminTS = 1
Property(C): TempFolder = C:\Users\ADMINI1.TES\AppData\Local\Temp
Property(C): ProgramFilesFolder = C:\Program Files (x86)
Property(C): CommonFilesFolder = C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
Property(C): ProgramFiles64Folder = C:\Program Files
Property(C): CommonFiles64Folder = C:\Program Files\Common Files
Property(C): AppDataFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\AppData\Roaming
Property(C): FavoritesFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\Favorites
Property(C): NetHoodFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
Property(C): PersonalFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\Documents
Property(C): PrintHoodFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
Property(C): RecentFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
Property(C): SendToFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
Property(C): TemplateFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
Property(C): CommonAppDataFolder = C:\ProgramData
Property(C): LocalAppDataFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\AppData\Local
Property(C): MyPicturesFolder = C:\Users\administrator.TESTDOM\Pictures
Property(C): AdminToolsFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
Property(C): StartupFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Property(C): ProgramMenuFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Property(C): StartMenuFolder = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
Property(C): DesktopFolder = C:\Users\Public\Desktop
Property(C): FontsFolder = C:\Windows\Fonts
Property(C): GPTSupport = 1
Property(C): OLEAdvtSupport = 1
Property(C): ShellAdvtSupport = 1
Property(C): MsiAMD64 = 6
Property(C): Msix64 = 6
Property(C): Intel = 6
Property(C): PhysicalMemory = 16383
Property(C): AdminUser = 1
Property(C): MsiTrueAdminUser = 1
Property(C): LogonUser = Administrator
Property(C): UserSID = S-1-5-21-3340471871-1132613523-3744331082-500
Property(C): UserLanguageID = 1031
Property(C): ComputerName = APP01
Property(C): SystemLanguageID = 1031
Property(C): ScreenX = 2560
Property(C): ScreenY = 1440
Property(C): CaptionHeight = 23
Property(C): BorderTop = 1
Property(C): BorderSide = 1
Property(C): TextHeight = 16
Property(C): TextInternalLeading = 3
Property(C): ColorBits = 32
Property(C): TTCSupport = 1
Property(C): Time = 09:43:42
Property(C): Date = 04.03.2026
Property(C): MsiNetAssemblySupport = 4.8.3761.0
Property(C): MsiWin32AssemblySupport = 10.0.17763.4131
Property(C): RedirectedDllSupport = 2
Property(C): MsiRunningElevated = 1
Property(C): Privileged = 1
Property(C): USERNAME = Windows-Benutzer
Property(C): DATABASE = C:\ProgramData\Package Cache{EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D31115742}v1.0.0.0\Bridge.msi
Property(C): OriginalDatabase = C:\ProgramData\Package Cache{EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D31115742}v1.0.0.0\Bridge.msi
Property(C): SOURCEDIR = C:\ProgramData\Package Cache{EE213C66-ECF6-4F6E-BA1A-5E7D31115742}v1.0.0.0
Property(C): VersionHandler = 5.00
Property(C): UILevel = 5
Property(C): ACTION = INSTALL
Property(C): EXECUTEACTION = INSTALL
Property(C): ROOTDRIVE = D:
Property(C): CostingComplete = 1
Property(C): OutOfDiskSpace = 0
Property(C): OutOfNoRbDiskSpace = 0
Property(C): PrimaryVolumeSpaceAvailable = 0
Property(C): PrimaryVolumeSpaceRequired = 0
Property(C): PrimaryVolumeSpaceRemaining = 0
Property(C): INSTALLLEVEL = 1
Property(C): WIXUI_INSTALLDIR_VALID = 1
=== Logging stopped: 04.03.2026 09:43:42 ===
MSI (c) (DC:1C) [09:43:42:862]: Note: 1: 1708
MSI (c) (DC:1C) [09:43:42:863]: Product: Bridge -- Installation failed.

MSI (c) (DC:1C) [09:43:42:863]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name: Bridge. Product Version: 1.0.0.0. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: SmokingHead. Installation success or error status: 1603.

MSI (c) (DC:1C) [09:43:42:865]: Grabbed execution mutex.
MSI (c) (DC:1C) [09:43:42:865]: Cleaning up uninstalled install packages, if any exist
MSI (c) (DC:1C) [09:43:42:869]: MainEngineThread is returning 1603
=== Verbose logging stopped: 04.03.2026 09:43:42 ===