TABLE OF CONTENTS

• IIS Application Pool Recycling
• Overview
• Solution Summary
  • Required Steps
  • Step-by-Step Configuration
    • Step 1: Install the Application Initialization Module
    • Step 2: Set Application Pool to Start Immediately
    • Step 3: Configure Always Running and Idle Timeout
    • Step 4: Set Recycling Time for Application Pool
    • Step 5: Enable Preload for ManagementStudio
  • Example: Task Scheduling Scenario
  • Additional Notes
• Further Support

IIS Application Pool Recycling

Overview

By default, Internet Information Services (IIS) recycles the Application Pool daily, typically during the early morning hours. When the recycle occurs, ManagementStudio is unloaded from memory. As a result, the Task Scheduler service is interrupted until a user logs into ManagementStudio and IIS reloads the application. This behaviour may cause scheduled tasks set to run early in the morning to fail, if no user session is active at that time.

Solution Summary

To maintain Task Scheduler functionality and allow scheduled scripts to run before users have logged in, IIS should be configured to proactively load ManagementStudio into memory immediately after the Application Pool is recycled.

Required Steps

1. Install the Application Initialization module.
2. Configure the Application Pool to start immediately.
3. Set Start Mode to AlwaysRunning and Idle Time-out to 0.
4. Set Application Pool recycling time outside working hours.
5. Enable Preload for ManagementStudio.

Step-by-Step Configuration

Step 1: Install the Application Initialization Module

1. Open Server Manager.
2. Navigate to Server Roles → Web Server (IIS) → Application Development.
3. Ensure the Application Initialization module is installed.

Step 2: Set Application Pool to Start Immediately

1. Open IIS Manager.
2. In the left pane, select the Application Pool used by ManagementStudio.
3. In the Actions panel, click Basic Settings....
4. Ensure Start application pool immediately is enabled.
5. Click OK.

Step 3: Configure Always Running and Idle Timeout

1. With the correct Application Pool selected, click Advanced Settings... in the Actions panel.
2. Set Start Mode to AlwaysRunning.
3. Set Idle Time-out (minutes) to 0.
4. Click OK.

Step 4: Set Recycling Time for Application Pool

1. Select the Application Pool assigned to ManagementStudio.
2. Click Recycling... in the Actions panel.
3. Specify a recycle time outside normal working hours, for example, 02:00 AM.
4. Clear all other recycling options to avoid unexpected recycles.
5. Click Next, then Finish.

Step 5: Enable Preload for ManagementStudio

1. In IIS Manager, select the ManagementStudio website or application.
2. In the Actions panel, click Advanced Settings....
3. Set Preload Enabled to True.
4. Click OK.

Example: Task Scheduling Scenario

With these settings, ManagementStudio will be automatically reloaded into memory after the scheduled Application Pool recycle (e.g., 2:00 AM). This ensures that Task Scheduler remains active and tasks scheduled for early morning can run successfully, even if no user has logged in yet.

Additional Notes

• These instructions apply to deployments of ManagementStudio running on IIS with scheduled tasks required outside typical working hours.
• Adjust the recycling time according to your environment’s requirements to minimise potential impact.

Further Support

For additional assistance, visit the ManagementStudio Service Desk to search the knowledge base or to submit a support ticket.