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![Machine Machine](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126094386/527496524.jpg)
-A lot of the times you will see the below example which includes the decryption=”AES” parameter. This is an optional value, if you don’t specify it ASP.net automatically determines which algorithm to use.
-The keys are in hexadecimal format and have to be specific length, if you want to manually generate the keys you can use any hexadecimal generator to generate random hex keys of specific length.
![Iis Iis](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126094386/605806796.png)
- Generate Machine Key In Iis 6 5
- How To Generate Machine Key In Iis
- Generate Machine Key From Iis
- Iis Machinekey Validation Key Generator
- Generate Machine Key In Iis 6 Download
- C# Generate Machine Key
- Iis Machine Key Generator
Applies To: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012
Use the Machine Key feature page to configure hashing and encryption settings used for application services, such as view state, Forms authentication, membership and roles, and anonymous identification. Machine keys are also used to verify out-of-process session state identification.
Note
If you deploy your application in a web farm, make sure that the configuration files on each server in the web farm have the same value for the validation key and decryption keys, which are used for hashing and decryption respectively. Otherwise, you cannot guarantee which server handles successive requests.
Related scenarios
UI Elements for Machine Key
The following tables describe the UI elements that are available on the feature page and in the Actions pane.
Searching for 'validationkey' in the machine.config, machine.config.comments, and machine.config.default returns nothing. I have entered the above validation key (different one of course) right below the entry in the machine.config and reset IIS. The users are still experiencing the same problem as before which is.
Generate Machine Key In Iis 6 5
- How To Set Up an HTTPS Service in IIS. Content provided by Microsoft. IN THIS TASK. IIS includes its own certificate request tool that you can use to send a certificate request to a certification authority. However, Microsoft recommends that you re-create or obtain a new certificate for IIS. Configure Folder or Web Site to Use.
- Add Machine Key to machine.config in Load Balancing environment to multiple versions of.net framework. I have two web servers behind a F5 load balancer. Each web server has identical applications to the other. There was no issue until the config of the load balancer changed from source address persistence to least connections.
Feature Page Elements
How To Generate Machine Key In Iis
Element Name | Description |
---|---|
Validation method | Select one of the following options to specify the validation method the machine key uses:
|
Encryption method | Select one of the following options to specify the encryption method the machine key uses:
|
Validation key | Computes a Message Authentication Code (MAC) to confirm the integrity of the data. This key is appended to either the Forms authentication cookie or the view state for a specific page. Select one of the following options to specify how the validation key is generated:
|
Decryption key | Used to encrypt and decrypt Forms authentication tickets and view state. Select one of the following options to specify how the decryption key is generated:
|
Actions Pane Elements
Generate Machine Key From Iis
Element Name | Description |
---|---|
Apply | Saves the changes that you have made on the feature page. |
Cancel | Cancels the changes that you have made on the feature page. |
Generate Keys | Generates a validation key and a decryption key in the corresponding boxes on the feature page. |
When you have multiple web servers running behind a load balancer you need to make sure that the decryption/encrypting keys are identical. If they are different you will run into “invalid view state” or “Validation of viewstate MAC failed” errors. In my case I had identical web sites running on both nodes and when the load balancer switches sessions from one node to the other the error popped up.
Generating just the hex keys
If you are looking for a way to generate just the hex keys on their own. Scroll to the very bottom, you can use IIS to generate keys or a random hex number generator.
Generating just the hex keys
If you are looking for a way to generate just the hex keys on their own. Scroll to the very bottom, you can use IIS to generate keys or a random hex number generator.
PowerShell script to Generate machine keys
-The PowerShell script can be found here
– You can also view it on my blog as as text file here. (Right-clik > save as, add .ps1 ext)
-The tool can be run locally on the server itself or you can point it at multiple remote machines.
– You can also view it on my blog as as text file here. (Right-clik > save as, add .ps1 ext)
-The tool can be run locally on the server itself or you can point it at multiple remote machines.
-If running remotely make sure the firewall is off on the destination machines as the script may fail.
-Before running the tool backup the two folders that contain the “machine.config” files for all your .NET frameworks or just navigate to differernt .NET versions and copy just the machine.config file as that is these are the one files that are modified..
“C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFramework64”
“C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFramework”
-In the below example I am trying to read what the current machine key value is with the “…-Mode Read” command. No results are returned as the machinekey value does not exist on a fresh install of Windows.
-I then run the “….-Mode Write” command and the keys are generated. Double check that all keys are exactly the same for all machines.
-Before running the tool backup the two folders that contain the “machine.config” files for all your .NET frameworks or just navigate to differernt .NET versions and copy just the machine.config file as that is these are the one files that are modified..
“C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFramework64”
“C:WindowsMicrosoft.NETFramework”
-In the below example I am trying to read what the current machine key value is with the “…-Mode Read” command. No results are returned as the machinekey value does not exist on a fresh install of Windows.
-I then run the “….-Mode Write” command and the keys are generated. Double check that all keys are exactly the same for all machines.
What does the script do?:
The script updates the machine.config file for every version of .NET framework. It adds <machinekey… section to the file, see below screenshot for details before and after.
Machine.config Before and After
Here is what the machine.config file looks like before running the tool and after. In a fresh install of Windows the machine key variable does not exist. In all instances of .NET the machine key is inserted just above the closing clause for </system.web>.. In the screenshot it is word-wrapped but it is one long line starting from <machineKey and ends with />.
Additional info:
See the below article as it contains a lot of good information regarding Machine keys.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dotnet/netframework-4.0/w8h3skw9(v=vs.100)
-A lot of the times you will see the below example which includes the decryption=”AES” parameter. This is an optional value, if you don’t specify it ASP.net automatically determines which algorithm to use.
-The keys are in hexadecimal format and have to be specific length, if you want to manually generate the keys you can use any hexadecimal generator to generate random hex keys of specific length.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dotnet/netframework-4.0/w8h3skw9(v=vs.100)
-A lot of the times you will see the below example which includes the decryption=”AES” parameter. This is an optional value, if you don’t specify it ASP.net automatically determines which algorithm to use.
-The keys are in hexadecimal format and have to be specific length, if you want to manually generate the keys you can use any hexadecimal generator to generate random hex keys of specific length.
![Machine Machine](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126094386/527496524.jpg)
ires a 128-bit key (32 hexadecimal characters)
SHA1 requires a 160-bit key (40 hexadecimal characters)
3DES requires a 192-bit key (48 hexadecimal characters)
HMACSHA256 requires a 256-bit key (64 hexadecimal characters)
HMACSHA384 requires a 384-bit key (96 hexadecimal characters)
HMACSHA512 requires a 512-bit key (128 hexadecimal characters)
SHA1 requires a 160-bit key (40 hexadecimal characters)
3DES requires a 192-bit key (48 hexadecimal characters)
HMACSHA256 requires a 256-bit key (64 hexadecimal characters)
HMACSHA384 requires a 384-bit key (96 hexadecimal characters)
HMACSHA512 requires a 512-bit key (128 hexadecimal characters)
-A lot of the times you will see the below example which includes the decryption=”AES” parameter. This is an optional value, if you don’t specify it ASP.net automatically determines which algorithm to use.
-The keys are in hexadecimal format and have to be specific length, if you want to manually generate the keys you can use any hexadecimal generator to generate random hex keys of specific length.
Increase Security
If you want to increase the encryption or decryption of the machine key you can use the below chart to change the key values. The key length has to be a certain number of random hex characters depending on which algorithm you choose. See th below article for more details.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dotnet/netframework-4.0/w8h3skw9(v=vs.100)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dotnet/netframework-4.0/w8h3skw9(v=vs.100)
Iis Machinekey Validation Key Generator
Here is a random hex number generator
https://www.browserling.com/tools/random-hex
https://www.browserling.com/tools/random-hex
![Iis Iis](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126094386/605806796.png)
Generate Machine Key In Iis 6 Download
Generating machine keys through IIS
C# Generate Machine Key
IIS has a built in function to generate hex keys may be a better option then a random hex generator online.
Iis Machine Key Generator
There is a Generate keys button on the right side. Every time you click it a new key will be generated.