Short answer: A virtual directory is a path you invent in your control panel and map to a real folder on your site. The name you invent becomes part of the address visitors use, and it does not have to match the folder underneath — which is both convenient and, in a small way, safer. Set them up at controlpanel.infosaic.com.
Applies to: Infosaic Windows web hosting · shared servers · web server advanced properties
A virtual directory separates the address people type from the folder the files actually sit in. You create a directory name in the control panel, point it at a physical folder, and the server does the translation.
Visitors then request that name in a browser as if it were an ordinary folder, and get whatever is in the physical directory — a web page, or a list of further folders and files.
What a virtual directory actually is
A virtual directory is a directory name — also called a path — that you specify in your control panel and map to a physical directory on your site.
The virtual directory name becomes part of the application’s URL. Visitors request that address from a browser and reach the content in the physical directory behind it.
If you give the virtual directory a different name from the physical one, it becomes harder for anyone to work out your actual file structure, because the address no longer maps directly onto the layout of the site. That is a small benefit, not a security measure in itself, but it is free.
Setting one up
- Sign in at controlpanel.infosaic.com.
- Open the virtual directories section.
- Enter the name you want to appear in the address.
- Specify the physical folder it should map to.
- Save, then test the address in a browser.
Keep the name short and lower case. It is going into URLs, printed material and other people’s links, and it is awkward to change later.
Do not rely on an unguessable name as protection. Obscuring the physical layout is a side benefit. If the content genuinely needs protecting, use authentication on the folder rather than a name nobody is expected to guess.
When they are worth using
- Running an application from its own folder while giving it a tidy public address.
- Keeping content outside the main site folder but still serving it from the site.
- Giving a section a stable address that survives the files being reorganised underneath.
- Separating an area with different settings — different permissions or authentication from the rest of the site.
If none of those apply, an ordinary folder is simpler and easier for the next person to understand.
If a virtual directory does not work
- Check the physical path. A path that does not exist produces a 404 that looks like a missing page.
- Check for a default document in the target folder, or the address will show an error or a file listing rather than a page.
- Check permissions on the physical folder if the application needs to write to it.
- Check the name does not clash with a real folder of the same name in your site root.
If it still will not resolve, open a ticket from the control panel with the virtual name and the physical path you entered.
Questions and answers
What is a virtual directory?
A directory name you specify in the control panel and map to a physical folder on your site. The name becomes part of the site address.
Where do I create one?
In the virtual directories section of your control panel at controlpanel.infosaic.com.
Does the virtual name have to match the folder name?
No, and using a different name makes your physical file structure less obvious from the URL.
Does a virtual directory make my content secure?
No. It obscures the layout slightly. Use authentication if the content actually needs protecting.
What do visitors see when they request it?
Whatever is in the physical directory — a web page, or a list of files and folders if there is no default document.
Why do I get an error when I visit the virtual directory?
Usually a wrong physical path, or no default document in the target folder.
Can a virtual directory have different settings from the rest of the site?
Yes. It is a common reason to use one — different permissions or authentication for one area.
Related articles
- Home folder, redirects and site security settings
- Setting your default document
- Setting up custom error pages
- Checking which extensions your server supports
- Stopping and restarting your website
- How do I contact tech support?
Still stuck?
Open a support ticket from your hosting control panel at controlpanel.infosaic.com — that is the fastest route, because it reaches the team who can already see your account. You can also email [email protected].