Problem with Protected Configuration Provider on Azure

Question

I build the application for Protected Configuration Provider by help of following link.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/33ws57y0.aspx

in this example we need to add following code in web.config

<configuration>
   <configProtectedData>
     <providers>
       <add name="TripleDESProvider"
      type="Samples.AspNet.ProtectedConfiguration.TripleDESProtectedConfigurationProvider,
                  TripleDESProtectedConfigurationProvider,
                  Version=0.0.0.0, CultureInfo=neutral,
                  PublicKeyToken=a5a9eb4fc5306403,
                  processorArchitecture=MSIL"
            keyFilePath="c:\WebSites\SampleApplication\App_Data\Keys.txt" />
     </providers>
   </configProtectedData>
</configuration>

its work fine in local matchine but now I want to deploy my application on azure as web role. So my question is that how can I specify path  for "Keys.txt" if I add this file in my web application? somehow "~\keys.txt" is not working. If I using "~" sign for root path, In case of IIS it return following error

Could not find file 'c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\Keys.txt (got same kind of error on Azure)

So "~" did not take application directory. I also try to set value for keyFilePath attribute on run time by editing web.config file, its work fine on local machine but on Azure its give me following  error

 Access to the path 'E:\sitesroot\0\web.config' is denied

So is there any alternate way so I can use Protected Configuration Provider on Windows Azure?

Answer 1

Hi,

Do you use Cloud Service or Virtual Machine host your application?

As far as i know, if you use Cloud Service (web role), the Windows Server system was not installed in disk C , you can use remote desktop to connect to the Azure VM to confirm it.

If you use Virtual Machine this path may works because OS is install in disk C.

Another thing is i why do you want to encrypt web.config file in Windows Azure VM? Because no one can connect the VM unless he has the remote desktop permission (username/password).

BR,

Arwind

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Answer 2

Yes Arwind, my application installed on E drive. but still give error Access to the path 'E:\sitesroot\0\web.config' is denied

Answer 3

I found the article which say that protected configuration providers do not work as such on Windows Azure. Please check following link

http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/pkcs12protectedconfg

This link also come with the solution and its work fine.