Web.config file in VS 2010 and .Net Framework 4.0 website

With every new framework of .Net , the size of Web.config file kept on increasing.Initially the size was quiet minimal but then came Asp.Net Ajax and it brought along with itself its own set of config section entries , corresponding HTTP Handlers and HTTP Module.With .Net 3.5 framework the size increased even more by the addition of other tags like <system.codedom> , <runtime> etc.And once .Net framework was done with its addition of entries in web.config file , we developer’s added our own set of entries.If you are working with winFx technologies like WCF or WF then further more additions are required in the Web.config file.

Finally , with the new .Net Framework 4.0  this issue(not exactly an issue) has been resolved.Following is what the default web.Config file will look like in the default website template in VS 2010 and .Net Framework 4.0 .

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<!--
  For more information on how to configure your ASP.NET application, please visit
  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=152368
  -->

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="ApplicationServices"
         connectionString="data source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|\aspnetdb.mdf;User Instance=true"
         providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
  </connectionStrings>
  <system.web>
    <compilation debug="false" targetFramework="4.0" />
    <authentication mode="Forms">
      <forms loginUrl="~/Account/Login.aspx" timeout="2880" />
    </authentication>
    <membership>
      <providers>
        <clear/>
        <add name="AspNetSqlMembershipProvider" type="System.Web.Security.SqlMembershipProvider" connectionStringName="ApplicationServices"
             enablePasswordRetrieval="false" enablePasswordReset="true" requiresQuestionAndAnswer="false" requiresUniqueEmail="false"
             maxInvalidPasswordAttempts="5" minRequiredPasswordLength="6" minRequiredNonalphanumericCharacters="0" passwordAttemptWindow="10"
             applicationName="/" />
      </providers>
    </membership>
    <profile>
      <providers>
        <clear/>
        <add name="AspNetSqlProfileProvider" type="System.Web.Profile.SqlProfileProvider" connectionStringName="ApplicationServices" applicationName="/"/>
      </providers>
    </profile>
    <roleManager enabled="false">
      <providers>
        <clear/>
        <add name="AspNetSqlRoleProvider" type="System.Web.Security.SqlRoleProvider" connectionStringName="ApplicationServices" applicationName="/" />
        <add name="AspNetWindowsTokenRoleProvider" type="System.Web.Security.WindowsTokenRoleProvider" applicationName="/" />
      </providers>
    </roleManager>
  </system.web>
  <system.webServer>
     <modules runAllManagedModulesForAllRequests="true"/>
  </system.webServer>
</configuration>

So as its clear from the above web.config file lots of entries have been taken off and the current web.config file is left with some very basic contents.But again if the previous entries like config section , compilation etc are not present in the default web.config file then where they actually went.Its simple all those contents which are essential for normal functioning of a website and the one which remains unchanged are actually moved to machine.config file.Following is the machine.config file in .Net Framework 4.0.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--
    Please refer to machine.config.comments for a description and
    the default values of each configuration section.

    For a full documentation of the schema please refer to
    http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=42127

    To improve performance, machine.config should contain only those
    settings that differ from their defaults.
-->
<configuration>
    <configSections>
        <section name="appSettings" type="System.Configuration.AppSettingsSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" restartOnExternalChanges="false" requirePermission="false"/>
        <section name="connectionStrings" type="System.Configuration.ConnectionStringsSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" requirePermission="false"/>
        <section name="mscorlib" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="runtime" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="assemblyBinding" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="satelliteassemblies" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="startup" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="system.codedom" type="System.CodeDom.Compiler.CodeDomConfigurationHandler, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.data" type="System.Data.Common.DbProviderFactoriesConfigurationHandler, System.Data, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.data.dataset" type="System.Configuration.NameValueFileSectionHandler, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" restartOnExternalChanges="false"/>
        <section name="system.data.odbc" type="System.Data.Common.DbProviderConfigurationHandler, System.Data, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.data.oledb" type="System.Data.Common.DbProviderConfigurationHandler, System.Data, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.data.oracleclient" type="System.Data.Common.DbProviderConfigurationHandler, System.Data, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.data.sqlclient" type="System.Data.Common.DbProviderConfigurationHandler, System.Data, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.diagnostics" type="System.Diagnostics.SystemDiagnosticsSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="system.runtime.remoting" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="system.windows.forms" type="System.Windows.Forms.WindowsFormsSection, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <section name="windows" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowLocation="false"/>
        <section name="uri" type="System.Configuration.UriSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        <sectionGroup name="system.runtime.caching" type="System.Runtime.Caching.Configuration.CachingSectionGroup, System.Runtime.Caching, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a">
            <section name="memoryCache" type="System.Runtime.Caching.Configuration.MemoryCacheSection, System.Runtime.Caching, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.xml.serialization" type="System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration.SerializationSectionGroup, System.Xml, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
            <section name="schemaImporterExtensions" type="System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration.SchemaImporterExtensionsSection, System.Xml, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="dateTimeSerialization" type="System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration.DateTimeSerializationSection, System.Xml, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="xmlSerializer" type="System.Xml.Serialization.Configuration.XmlSerializerSection, System.Xml, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.net" type="System.Net.Configuration.NetSectionGroup, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
            <section name="authenticationModules" type="System.Net.Configuration.AuthenticationModulesSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="connectionManagement" type="System.Net.Configuration.ConnectionManagementSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="defaultProxy" type="System.Net.Configuration.DefaultProxySection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <sectionGroup name="mailSettings" type="System.Net.Configuration.MailSettingsSectionGroup, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
                <section name="smtp" type="System.Net.Configuration.SmtpSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            </sectionGroup>
            <section name="requestCaching" type="System.Net.Configuration.RequestCachingSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="settings" type="System.Net.Configuration.SettingsSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="webRequestModules" type="System.Net.Configuration.WebRequestModulesSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.runtime.serialization" type="System.Runtime.Serialization.Configuration.SerializationSectionGroup, System.Runtime.Serialization, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
            <section name="dataContractSerializer" type="System.Runtime.Serialization.Configuration.DataContractSerializerSection, System.Runtime.Serialization, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.serviceModel" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ServiceModelSectionGroup, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
            <section name="behaviors" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.BehaviorsSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="bindings" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.BindingsSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="client" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ClientSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="comContracts" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ComContractsSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="commonBehaviors" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.CommonBehaviorsSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" allowDefinition="MachineOnly" allowExeDefinition="MachineOnly"/>
            <section name="diagnostics" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.DiagnosticSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="extensions" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ExtensionsSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="machineSettings" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.MachineSettingsSection, SMDiagnostics, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" allowDefinition="MachineOnly" allowExeDefinition="MachineOnly"/>
            <section name="protocolMapping" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ProtocolMappingSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="serviceHostingEnvironment" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ServiceHostingEnvironmentSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="services" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ServicesSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="standardEndpoints" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.StandardEndpointsSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="routing" type="System.ServiceModel.Routing.Configuration.RoutingSection, System.ServiceModel.Routing, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
            <section name="tracking" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Tracking.Configuration.TrackingSection, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.serviceModel.activation" type="System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration.ServiceModelActivationSectionGroup, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
            <section name="diagnostics" type="System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration.DiagnosticSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="net.pipe" type="System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration.NetPipeSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            <section name="net.tcp" type="System.ServiceModel.Activation.Configuration.NetTcpSection, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.transactions" type="System.Transactions.Configuration.TransactionsSectionGroup, System.Transactions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089, Custom=null">
            <section name="defaultSettings" type="System.Transactions.Configuration.DefaultSettingsSection, System.Transactions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089, Custom=null"/>
            <section name="machineSettings" type="System.Transactions.Configuration.MachineSettingsSection, System.Transactions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089, Custom=null" allowDefinition="MachineOnly" allowExeDefinition="MachineOnly"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.web" type="System.Web.Configuration.SystemWebSectionGroup, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a">
            <section name="anonymousIdentification" type="System.Web.Configuration.AnonymousIdentificationSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="authentication" type="System.Web.Configuration.AuthenticationSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="authorization" type="System.Web.Configuration.AuthorizationSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="browserCaps" type="System.Web.Configuration.HttpCapabilitiesSectionHandler, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="clientTarget" type="System.Web.Configuration.ClientTargetSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="compilation" type="System.Web.Configuration.CompilationSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="customErrors" type="System.Web.Configuration.CustomErrorsSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="deployment" type="System.Web.Configuration.DeploymentSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineOnly"/>
            <section name="deviceFilters" type="System.Web.Mobile.DeviceFiltersSection, System.Web.Mobile, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="fullTrustAssemblies" type="System.Web.Configuration.FullTrustAssembliesSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="globalization" type="System.Web.Configuration.GlobalizationSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="healthMonitoring" type="System.Web.Configuration.HealthMonitoringSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="hostingEnvironment" type="System.Web.Configuration.HostingEnvironmentSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="httpCookies" type="System.Web.Configuration.HttpCookiesSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="httpHandlers" type="System.Web.Configuration.HttpHandlersSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="httpModules" type="System.Web.Configuration.HttpModulesSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="httpRuntime" type="System.Web.Configuration.HttpRuntimeSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="identity" type="System.Web.Configuration.IdentitySection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="machineKey" type="System.Web.Configuration.MachineKeySection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="membership" type="System.Web.Configuration.MembershipSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="mobileControls" type="System.Web.UI.MobileControls.MobileControlsSection, System.Web.Mobile, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="pages" type="System.Web.Configuration.PagesSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="partialTrustVisibleAssemblies" type="System.Web.Configuration.PartialTrustVisibleAssembliesSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="processModel" type="System.Web.Configuration.ProcessModelSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineOnly" allowLocation="false"/>
            <section name="profile" type="System.Web.Configuration.ProfileSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="protocols" type="System.Web.Configuration.ProtocolsSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToWebRoot"/>
            <section name="roleManager" type="System.Web.Configuration.RoleManagerSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="securityPolicy" type="System.Web.Configuration.SecurityPolicySection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="sessionPageState" type="System.Web.Configuration.SessionPageStateSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="sessionState" type="System.Web.Configuration.SessionStateSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="siteMap" type="System.Web.Configuration.SiteMapSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="trace" type="System.Web.Configuration.TraceSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="trust" type="System.Web.Configuration.TrustSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="urlMappings" type="System.Web.Configuration.UrlMappingsSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            <section name="webControls" type="System.Web.Configuration.WebControlsSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="webParts" type="System.Web.Configuration.WebPartsSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="webServices" type="System.Web.Services.Configuration.WebServicesSection, System.Web.Services, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <section name="xhtmlConformance" type="System.Web.Configuration.XhtmlConformanceSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            <sectionGroup name="caching" type="System.Web.Configuration.SystemWebCachingSectionGroup, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a">
                <section name="cache" type="System.Web.Configuration.CacheSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                <section name="outputCache" type="System.Web.Configuration.OutputCacheSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                <section name="outputCacheSettings" type="System.Web.Configuration.OutputCacheSettingsSection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                <section name="sqlCacheDependency" type="System.Web.Configuration.SqlCacheDependencySection, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
            </sectionGroup>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.web.extensions" type="System.Web.Configuration.SystemWebExtensionsSectionGroup, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35">
            <sectionGroup name="scripting" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingSectionGroup, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35">
                <section name="scriptResourceHandler" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingScriptResourceHandlerSection, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" requirePermission="false" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                <sectionGroup name="webServices" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingWebServicesSectionGroup, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35">
                    <section name="jsonSerialization" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingJsonSerializationSection, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" requirePermission="false" allowDefinition="Everywhere"/>
                    <section name="profileService" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingProfileServiceSection, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" requirePermission="false" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                    <section name="authenticationService" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingAuthenticationServiceSection, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" requirePermission="false" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                    <section name="roleService" type="System.Web.Configuration.ScriptingRoleServiceSection, System.Web.Extensions, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" requirePermission="false" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication"/>
                </sectionGroup>
            </sectionGroup>
        </sectionGroup>
        <sectionGroup name="system.xaml.hosting" type="System.Xaml.Hosting.Configuration.XamlHostingSectionGroup, System.Xaml.Hosting, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35">
            <section name="httpHandlers" type="System.Xaml.Hosting.Configuration.XamlHostingSection, System.Xaml.Hosting, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
        </sectionGroup>
        <section name="system.webServer" type="System.Configuration.IgnoreSection, System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
        <section name="system.serviceModel.activities.management" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.WorkflowManagementServiceSection, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
    </configSections>
    <configProtectedData defaultProvider="RsaProtectedConfigurationProvider">
        <providers>
            <add name="RsaProtectedConfigurationProvider" type="System.Configuration.RsaProtectedConfigurationProvider,System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" description="Uses RsaCryptoServiceProvider to encrypt and decrypt" keyContainerName="NetFrameworkConfigurationKey" cspProviderName="" useMachineContainer="true" useOAEP="false"/>
            <add name="DataProtectionConfigurationProvider" type="System.Configuration.DpapiProtectedConfigurationProvider,System.Configuration, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" description="Uses CryptProtectData and CryptUnProtectData Windows APIs to encrypt and decrypt" useMachineProtection="true" keyEntropy=""/>
        </providers>
    </configProtectedData>
    <runtime/>
    <connectionStrings>
        <add name="LocalSqlServer" connectionString="data source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|aspnetdb.mdf;User Instance=true" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
    </connectionStrings>
    <system.data>
        <DbProviderFactories><add name="Microsoft SQL Server Compact Data Provider" invariant="System.Data.SqlServerCe.3.5" description=".NET Framework Data Provider for Microsoft SQL Server Compact" type="System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeProviderFactory, System.Data.SqlServerCe, Version=3.5.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91"/></DbProviderFactories>
    </system.data>
    <system.serviceModel>
        <extensions>
            <behaviorExtensions>
                <add name="persistenceProvider" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.PersistenceProviderElement, System.WorkflowServices, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="workflowRuntime" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WorkflowRuntimeElement, System.WorkflowServices, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="enableWebScript" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WebScriptEnablingElement, System.ServiceModel.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="webHttp" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WebHttpElement, System.ServiceModel.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="serviceDiscovery" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.ServiceDiscoveryElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="endpointDiscovery" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.EndpointDiscoveryElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="etwTracking" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.EtwTrackingBehaviorElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="routing" type="System.ServiceModel.Routing.Configuration.RoutingExtensionElement, System.ServiceModel.Routing, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="soapProcessing" type="System.ServiceModel.Routing.Configuration.SoapProcessingExtensionElement, System.ServiceModel.Routing, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="workflowIdle" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.WorkflowIdleElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="workflowUnhandledException" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.WorkflowUnhandledExceptionElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="bufferedReceive" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.BufferedReceiveElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="sendMessageChannelCache" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.SendMessageChannelCacheElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="sqlWorkflowInstanceStore" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.SqlWorkflowInstanceStoreElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="Microsoft.VisualStudio.Diagnostics.ServiceModelSink.Behavior" type="Microsoft.VisualStudio.Diagnostics.ServiceModelSink.Behavior, Microsoft.VisualStudio.Diagnostics.ServiceModelSink, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/></behaviorExtensions>
            <bindingElementExtensions>
                <add name="webMessageEncoding" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WebMessageEncodingElement, System.ServiceModel.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="context" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ContextBindingElementExtensionElement, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
                <add name="byteStreamMessageEncoding" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.ByteStreamMessageEncodingElement, System.ServiceModel.Channels, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="discoveryClient" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.DiscoveryClientElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
            </bindingElementExtensions>
            <bindingExtensions>
                <add name="wsHttpContextBinding" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WSHttpContextBindingCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
                <add name="netTcpContextBinding" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.NetTcpContextBindingCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
                <add name="webHttpBinding" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WebHttpBindingCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="basicHttpContextBinding" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.BasicHttpContextBindingCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>
            </bindingExtensions>
            <endpointExtensions>
                <add name="dynamicEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.DynamicEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="discoveryEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.DiscoveryEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="udpDiscoveryEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.UdpDiscoveryEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="announcementEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.AnnouncementEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="udpAnnouncementEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Discovery.Configuration.UdpAnnouncementEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Discovery, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="workflowControlEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Activities.Configuration.WorkflowControlEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Activities, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="webHttpEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WebHttpEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
                <add name="webScriptEndpoint" type="System.ServiceModel.Configuration.WebScriptEndpointCollectionElement, System.ServiceModel.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35"/>
            </endpointExtensions>
        </extensions>
        <client>
            <metadata>
                <policyImporters>
                    <extension type="System.ServiceModel.Channels.ContextBindingElementImporter, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089, processorArchitecture=MSIL"/>
                </policyImporters>
                <wsdlImporters>
                    <extension type="System.ServiceModel.Channels.ContextBindingElementImporter, System.ServiceModel, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089, processorArchitecture=MSIL"/>
                </wsdlImporters>
            </metadata>
        </client>
        <tracking>
            <profiles>
                <trackingProfile name="">
                    <workflow activityDefinitionId="*">
                        <workflowInstanceQueries>
                            <workflowInstanceQuery>
                                <states>
                                    <state name="*"/>
                                </states>
                            </workflowInstanceQuery>
                        </workflowInstanceQueries>
                        <activityStateQueries>
                            <activityStateQuery activityName="*">
                                <states>
                                    <state name="Faulted"/>
                                </states>
                            </activityStateQuery>
                        </activityStateQueries>
                        <faultPropagationQueries>
                            <faultPropagationQuery faultSourceActivityName="*" faultHandlerActivityName="*"/>
                        </faultPropagationQueries>
                    </workflow>
                </trackingProfile>
            </profiles>
        </tracking>
        <standardEndpoints>
            <workflowControlEndpoint>
                <standardEndpoint name="WorkflowControlNetPipeEndpoint" address="System.Activities.DurableInstancing_IWorkflowInstanceManagement" binding="netNamedPipeBinding" bindingConfiguration="WorkflowControlNetPipeBinding"/>
                <standardEndpoint name="WorkflowControlHttpsEndpoint" address="System.Activities.DurableInstancing_IWorkflowInstanceManagement" binding="wsHttpBinding" bindingConfiguration="WorkflowControlHttpsBinding"/>
                <standardEndpoint name="WorkflowControlHttpEndpoint" address="System.Activities.DurableInstancing_IWorkflowInstanceManagement" binding="wsHttpBinding" bindingConfiguration="WorkflowControlHttpBinding"/>
                <standardEndpoint name="WorkflowControlNetTcpEndpoint" address="System.Activities.DurableInstancing_IWorkflowInstanceManagement" binding="netTcpBinding" bindingConfiguration="WorkflowControlNetTcpBinding"/>
            </workflowControlEndpoint>
        </standardEndpoints>
        <bindings>
            <netNamedPipeBinding>
                <binding name="WorkflowControlNetPipeBinding" transactionFlow="true">
                    <security mode="Transport">
                        <transport protectionLevel="Sign"/>
                    </security>
                </binding>
            </netNamedPipeBinding>
            <wsHttpBinding>
                <binding name="WorkflowControlHttpsBinding" transactionFlow="true">
                    <security mode="Transport">
                        <transport clientCredentialType="Windows"/>
                    </security>
                </binding>
                <binding name="WorkflowControlHttpBinding" transactionFlow="true">
                    <security mode="Message">
                        <message clientCredentialType="Windows"/>
                    </security>
                </binding>
            </wsHttpBinding>
            <netTcpBinding>
                <binding name="WorkflowControlNetTcpBinding" transactionFlow="true">
                    <security mode="Transport">
                        <transport clientCredentialType="Windows" protectionLevel="Sign"/>
                    </security>
                </binding>
            </netTcpBinding>
        </bindings>
        <commonBehaviors><endpointBehaviors><Microsoft.VisualStudio.Diagnostics.ServiceModelSink.Behavior/></endpointBehaviors><serviceBehaviors><Microsoft.VisualStudio.Diagnostics.ServiceModelSink.Behavior/></serviceBehaviors></commonBehaviors></system.serviceModel>
    <system.web>
        <processModel autoConfig="true"/>
        <httpHandlers/>
        <membership>
            <providers>
                <add name="AspNetSqlMembershipProvider" type="System.Web.Security.SqlMembershipProvider, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a" connectionStringName="LocalSqlServer" enablePasswordRetrieval="false" enablePasswordReset="true" requiresQuestionAndAnswer="true" applicationName="/" requiresUniqueEmail="false" passwordFormat="Hashed" maxInvalidPasswordAttempts="5" minRequiredPasswordLength="7" minRequiredNonalphanumericCharacters="1" passwordAttemptWindow="10" passwordStrengthRegularExpression=""/>
            </providers>
        </membership>
        <profile>
            <providers>
                <add name="AspNetSqlProfileProvider" connectionStringName="LocalSqlServer" applicationName="/" type="System.Web.Profile.SqlProfileProvider, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            </providers>
        </profile>
        <roleManager>
            <providers>
                <add name="AspNetSqlRoleProvider" connectionStringName="LocalSqlServer" applicationName="/" type="System.Web.Security.SqlRoleProvider, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
                <add name="AspNetWindowsTokenRoleProvider" applicationName="/" type="System.Web.Security.WindowsTokenRoleProvider, System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"/>
            </providers>
        </roleManager>
    </system.web>
</configuration>

In your local machine you can access this machine.config file by going through the following path :-

%Root%/Windows/Microsoft.net/Framework/v4.0.21006/Config/

And yes you will get this config file only if you are having .Net Framework installed.Also do not modify anything in the machine config file.

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8 Comments

  • Very useful article. Thanks.

  • Nice article. However, is there a %Root% environment variable?
    %Root%/Windows/Microsoft.net/Framework/v4.0.21006/Config/
    should be:
    %SystemRoot%/Microsoft.net/Framework/v4.0.21006/Config/
    or:
    %SystemDrive%/Windows/Microsoft.net/Framework/v4.0.21006/Config/

    My machine says .NET is up to v4.0.30319 now, so:
    %SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config

  • Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies.

    This error come while using.....
    email.profile=TextBox1.Text;

    I have included:-





    in web.config.
    Plz help me...

  • Could not load file or assembly 'System.Web, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies.

    This error come while using.....
    email.profile=TextBox1.Text;

    I have included:-





    in web.config.
    Plz help me...

  • dN1taX This is one awesome blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.

  • If I cannot modify something is machine.config then how to resolve this issue?

  • hi sir i have same machine.config file in .Net Framework 4.0.
    while am running my application am gettinh the error
    Server Error in '/rcds' Application.
    Configuration Error
    Description: An error occurred during the processing of a configuration file required to service this request. Please review the specific error details below and modify your configuration file appropriately.

    Parser Error Message: Unrecognized attribute 'requirePermission'

    Source Error:


    Line 12:
    Line 13:
    Line 14:
    Line 15:
    Line 16:


    Source File: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config\machine.config Line: 14

    Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:4.0.30319; ASP.NET Version:4.0.30319.272 i this error i getting this error so pls hepl me sir i need urget ans.

  • Hello mates, how is everything, and what you wish for to say concerning this paragraph, in my view its truly amazing designed for me.

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