Forbidden to browse WCF svc file?

Question

Hello everyone,

I am using VSTS 2010 + C# + .Net 4.0 + IIS 7.5 + Windows 7. When I open an svc file (in IIS manager, right click the svc file and select browse) for a WCF project in IIS, there is an error like this, any ideas what is wrong?

This type of page is not served. 
Description: The type of page you have requested is not served because it has been explicitly forbidden.  The extension '.svc' may be incorrect.   Please review the URL below and make sure that it is spelled correctly.

Here is the content of the web.config file I am using, is it correct?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
    <system.webServer>
        <staticContent>
            <remove fileExtension=".svc" />
        </staticContent>
        <handlers>
            <remove name="svc-ISAPI-2.0" />
            <remove name="svc-Integrated" />
            <add name="svc-ISAPI-2.0" path="*.svc" verb="*" modules="IsapiModule" scriptProcessor="C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_isapi.dll" resourceType="Unspecified" requireAccess="Script" preCondition="classicMode,runtimeVersionv2.0,bitness32" />
        </handlers>
    </system.webServer>
</configuration>

regards, George

Answer 1

Its likely the mime types not setup correctly on IIS, try using the aspnet_regiis tool. Failing that, I'd recommend adding a mimetype to your virtual directory in iis for .svc files to be handled by the .NET runtime.

Answer 2

You may have to launch the command servicemodelreg –ia in Visual Studio command prompt.

If it's not working, check if you have "WCF http activation" feature installed (Add/Remove Programs - Turn Windows Features On or Off - Microsoft .Net 3.5.1).

UPDATE 1: Probably your application is hosted under .NET 2.0 App Pool. Go to IIS Manager and check for Basic Settings… link. Click Select button and you will see which option are you using. Change it to use .NET 4.0

UPDATE 2: Your web.config file seems incomplete. I suggest you to configure your service using WCF Configuration Editor tool. Launch it (make sure you are using .NET 4 version of the tool) and open your web.config file. Create service configuration and service endpoint configuration, then save it.