Error on running the xWebAdministration example for creating a new website

DSC
1

Hi I don’t know why but when I used the example included in the xWebAdministration module, there seems to be an error. The goal is to setup a website in IIS and install certification. Here’s the configuration script:

configuration Website_Setup
{
param
(
# Target nodes to apply the configuration
[string]$NodeName = ‘localhost’,

    # Name of the website to create
    [Parameter(Mandatory)]
    [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
    [String]$WebSiteName,

    # Source Path for Website content
    [Parameter(Mandatory)]
    [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
    [String]$SourcePath,

    # Destination path for Website content
    [Parameter(Mandatory)]
    [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
    [String]$DestinationPath
)

# Import the module that defines custom resources
Import-DscResource -Module xWebAdministration

Node localhost
{
    # Install the IIS role
    WindowsFeature IIS
    {
        Ensure          = "Present"
        Name            = "Web-Server"
    }

    # Install the ASP .NET 4.5 role
    WindowsFeature AspNet45
    {
        Ensure          = "Present"
        Name            = "Web-Asp-Net45"
    }

    # Stop the default website
    xWebsite DefaultSite 
    {
        Ensure          = "Present"
        Name            = "Default Web Site"
        State           = "Stopped"
        PhysicalPath    = "C:\inetpub\wwwroot"
        DependsOn       = "[WindowsFeature]IIS"
    }

    # Copy the website content
    File WebContent
    {
        Ensure          = "Present"
        SourcePath      = $SourcePath
        DestinationPath = $DestinationPath
        Recurse         = $true
        Type            = "Directory"
        DependsOn       = "[WindowsFeature]AspNet45"
    }       

    # Create the new Website
    xWebsite NewWebsite
    {
        Ensure          = "Present"
        Name            = $WebSiteName
        State           = "Started"
        PhysicalPath    = $DestinationPath
        DependsOn       = "[File]WebContent"
        ApplicationPool  = 'AppPool'
        BindingInfo = @(
         MSFT_xWebBindingInformation
        {
            Protocol              = 'HTTP' 
            Port                  = '80'
            IPAddress             = '*'
            HostName              = 'testing.test.com.dk'

        };

       #Create certification. To be tested later on.

        MSFT_xWebBindingInformation
        {
            Protocol              = 'HTTPS' 
            Port                  = '443' 
            CertificateThumbprint = '5438DC0CB31B1C91B8945C7D91B3338F9C08BEFA'
            CertificateStoreName  = 'WebHosting'
            IPAddress             = '*'
       })
    }
}

}

Website_Setup

Start-DscConfiguration -Force -Wait -Verbose -Path .\Website_Setup

When I run the script above, here’s what I input:

WebsiteName: Example_Website_v1
SourcePath: C:\inetpub\wwwroot
DestinationPath: C:\inetpub\wwwroot

And it will encounter an error like this:

PowerShell DSC resource MSFT_xWebsite failed to execute Set-TargetResource functionality with error message:
Failure to successfully create the website “Example_Website_V1”.The object identifier does not represent a valid
object. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800710D8)
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:slight_smile: , CimException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : ProviderOperationExecutionFailure
+ PSComputerName : localhost

The SendConfigurationApply function did not succeed.
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (root/Microsoft/…gurationManager:String) , CimException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : MI RESULT 1
+ PSComputerName : localhost

2

Hi,

Couple of assumptions:

  • I’m assuming you have the xWebAdministration module on the computer your running this script on. Based on the fact your using localhost, I assume your creating the mof file on the same server you want it applied to.

  • I’m assuming you installed WMF 5.0 RTM at least on the server you want this applied on.

  • I’m assuming you are running the ISE shell with administrative permissions

Things to check:

  • Your using SourcePath in a wrong way. SourcePath in this sample means where are the web site files that I want to copy FROM the source
    to a TargetPath. Theres no real sense in have SourcePath and DestinationPath be the same.

  • Remove the #Create Certification… commen from within the xWebSite

  • Try removing the HostName or leaving it blank in the HTTP binding

Off Topic:
The reason the script has the xWebSite DefaultSite section is to stop the default web site out of security concerns.
You should probably not use c:\inetpub\wwwroot either.

3

Hi Arie, Thanks for your prompt reply. Where should I place the certification script? Is the certification script right (the goal is installing a certification)?

4

Hi,

Suggest reading Justins’ blog about certificates and how to use them with DSC.
He is a frequent visitor to these forums so I’m sure he will pitch in about it.

Theres also a xCertificate DSC resource you could use, but I haven’t had previous experience with it, so cant comment.

5

thanks Arie.