Virtual
Directories and Aliases
Virtual directories are also a
means of making your site more accessible to users and therefore more
manageable. If for example, you have a directory on another part of your
server, that is not included in the home directory or its structure, it is
possible to make it appear to a client's browser as though it were contained
in the home directory. As previously mentioned, use of this technique allows
directories running on different machines to appear as though they are
running on the one server in the one directory. Again, using this technique
allows the load to be spread across multiple machines. With more machines
doing the job, traffic is handled well, and efficient performance is
maintained.
Virtual directories can also be
assigned an alias. An alias is a nickname of sorts, which is assigned to a
directory. The directory my have a complex path, which will be difficult for
users to remember. For example, Intranet users may need to access files
stored in the last directory on the following path:
c:\wwwroot\manufacturing\sales\invoices.
This is cumbersome and
difficult for users to remember and enter without making errors, so it is
possible and advisable to assign an alias to the last directory. For
example, Invoices. When the alias is entered into the browser URL bar, the
users will be transported to the invoice directory as the diagram below
shows. |
