I recently switched from Apache/Linux to IIS/Windows in order to develop ASP.NET applications on my shared web host (ixwebhosting.com). Unfortunately, IIS6 doesn’t support WordPress permalinks because it doesn’t have the ability to use mod_rewrite unless you install a third-party ISAPI filter. Because I’m on a shared hosting plan, I don’t have access to install ISAPI filters and my web host won’t install them for me.

There are a few different 404 page-based hacks that allow you to retain your permalinks, even with IIS. The most popular fix, which worked fine for me, was Keyboard Face’s IIS Permalink Fix. I used his fix, and a GET variable fix from Ikailo to make a PHP-based 404 page that redirects all 404 pages back into WordPress, thereby bypassing the need for mod_redirect.

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A reader recently asked about enabling SSL for a web application, but without the hassle of applying for a verified certificate. This article will outline the process to enable HTTPS on a Windows XP machine, but the process of creating a self-signed certificate is applicable to just about any version of Windows.

What is a certificate?
A certificate is a file that contains a set of instructions, which are read by a client computer, outlining the process of properly encrypting and decrypting data. The certificate is unique to a website, and ensures the security of the client’s data to and from a server.

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