Troubleshooting Deployment Issues with ASP.NET React Web Apps and JWT Authentication

Описание: A guide to resolving common deployment problems faced when hosting `ASP.NET` React web applications with individual accounts on IIS, focusing on JWT authentication and SSL certificates.
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Troubleshooting Deployment Issues with ASP.NET React Web Apps and JWT Authentication

Deploying an ASP.NET web application, particularly one that incorporates React and utilizes JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for authentication, can often lead to a number of challenges. One common problem developers encounter is the error message stating, "Exception occurred while processing message" resulting in a 500 error when running the application on IIS (Internet Information Services). In this guide, we will discuss this issue and provide a structured solution to help you successfully deploy your application.

Understanding the Problem

When trying to deploy an ASP.NET 7.0 React application configured with individual accounts on IIS, you might experience an unhandled exception (500 error) that relates to JWT authentication. This typically appears in the logs as follows:

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This error suggests that the application cannot find or use certain authentication settings properly, particularly when it comes to the IdentityServer configuration. Additionally, during testing in development mode, you may encounter a white screen on registration and authorization pages, indicating further underlying issues.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

Here is a detailed guide that will help you resolve the deployment issues effectively.

Step 1: Update Your Connection String

Ensure that your connection strings in appsettings.json are correctly set up to connect to your MSSQL database. Compare your configuration to a working configuration from another project.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Check for SSL Certificates

The log mentions an invalid or missing SSL certificate. You must ensure that you have a valid certificate installed in the correct store. This is a critical step when deploying applications that require secure communications (HTTPS). Here’s what you should do:

Check Certificate Format: Certificates should be in .pfx (PKCS-12) format, which includes both the certificate and private key. Obtain the certificate that is properly configured for your domain, e.g., stabledraw.com.

Install the Certificate: Add your SSL certificate to the CurrentUser\WebHosting store if not done already. You can check this using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

Step 3: Update appsettings.Production.json

To ensure your application can find the SSL certificate, you need to explicitly specify the certificate path in your settings. Create or update your appsettings.Production.json file as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Deployment Environment and IIS Configuration

Before deploying your application, ensure IIS is properly configured to handle ASP.NET Core applications.

Open the IIS Manager.

Right-click your site and select "Edit Bindings". Make sure you have both HTTP and HTTPS bindings set correctly.

Ensure the application pool is running .NET CLR Version "No Managed Code" if you are using ASP.NET Core.

Step 5: Test Your Application

After making these updates, attempt to deploy your application again. Make sure to monitor the logs closely for any errors that might arise. If another HTTP 500 error occurs, revisit the logs and ensure you're capturing adequate information regarding the failures.

Conclusion

Deploying ASP.NET React applications can be tricky, especially when dealing with JWT authentication and SSL certificates. By following this structured approach, you can identify the root cause of the issue and successfully deploy your application without encountering