What is a MIME type?

There are times when you would want the IIS web server to serve a file that has an extension that it does not recognize. That is, a file whose MIME type has not been defined. In such a case, IIS would return http error code, 404.3 as shown below.

HTTP Error 404.3 – Not Found
Description: The page you are requesting cannot be served because of the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) map policy that is configured on the Web server. The page you requested has a file name extension that is not recognized, and therefore is not allowed.

MIME stands for Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions. MIME types form a standard way of classifying file types on the Internet. Internet programs such as Web servers and browsers all have a list of MIME types, so that they can transfer files of the same type in the same way, no matter what operating system they are working in.

A MIME type has two parts: a type and a subtype. They are separated by a slash (/). For example, the MIME type for Microsoft Word files is application and the subtype is msword. Together, the complete MIME type is application/msword.

Here is the list of available MIME types that you can add and configure on IIS

Hope this is useful.

List of MIME Types with Content types

There are times when you would want the IIS web server to serve a file that has an extension that it does not recognize. That is, a file whose mime type has not been defined. In such a case, IIS would return http error code, 404.3. For the web server to serve the file with that new extension, you need to create a mapping between that extension and the MIME type.

The following MIME types are some MIME types with its File Extension and Content type.

File Extension	Content type (MIME)
.323	text/h323
.aaf	application/octet-stream
.aca	application/octet-stream
.acx	application/internet-property-stream
.afm	application/octet-stream
.ai	application/postscript
.aif	audio/x-aiff
.aifc	audio/aiff
.aiff	audio/aiff
.applicati	application/x-ms-application
.art	image/x-jg
.asd	application/octet-stream
.asf	video/x-ms-asf
.asi	application/octet-stream
.asm	text/plain
.asr	video/x-ms-asf
.asx	video/x-ms-asf
.au	audio/basic
.avi	video/x-msvideo
.axs	application/olescript
.bas	text/plain
.bcpio	application/x-bcpio
.bin	application/octet-stream
.bmp	image/bmp
.c	text/plain
.cab	application/octet-stream
.cat	application/vnd.ms-pki.seccat
.cdf	application/x-cdf
.chm	application/octet-stream
.class	application/x-java-applet
.clp	application/x-msclip
.cmx	image/x-cmx
.cnf	text/plain
.cod	image/cis-cod
.cpio	application/x-cpio
.cpp	text/plain
.crd	application/x-mscardfile
.crl	application/pkix-crl
.crt	application/x-x509-ca-cert
.csh	application/x-csh
.css	text/css
.csv	application/octet-stream
.cur	application/octet-stream
.dcr	application/x-director
.deploy	application/octet-stream
.der	application/x-x509-ca-cert
.dib	image/bmp
.dir	application/x-director
.disco	text/xml
.dll	application/x-msdownload
.dlm	text/dlm
.dnl	application/x-msdownload
.doc	application/msword
.dot	application/msword
.dsp	application/octet-stream
.dtd	text/xml
.dvi	application/x-dvi
.dwf	drawing/x-dwf
.dwp	application/octet-stream
.dxr	application/x-director
.easm	application/octet-stream
.eml	message/rfc822
.emz	application/octet-stream
.eot	application/octet-stream
.eps	application/postscript
.etx	text/x-setext
.evy	application/envoy
.ex_	application/octet-stream
.exe	application/octet-stream
.fdf	application/vnd.fdf
.fif	application/fractals
.fla	application/octet-stream
.flr	x-world/x-vrml
.flv	video/x-flv
.gif	image/gif
.gtar	application/x-gtar
.gz	application/x-gzip
.h	text/plain
.hdf	application/x-hdf
.hdml	text/x-hdml
.hhc	application/x-oleobject
.hhk	application/octet-stream
.hhp	application/octet-stream
.hlp	application/winhlp
.hqx	application/mac-binhex40
.hsf	application/octet-stream
.hta	application/hta
.htc	text/x-component
.htm	text/html
.html	text/html
.htt	text/webviewhtml
.hxt	text/html
.ica	application/x-ica
.ico	image/x-icon
.ics	application/octet-stream
.ief	image/ief
.inf	application/octet-stream
.ins	application/x-internet-signup
.isp	application/x-internet-signup
.IVF	video/x-ivf
.jar	application/java-archive
.java (Disabled in IIS 7)	application/octet-stream
.jck	application/liquidmotion
.jcz	application/liquidmotion
.jfif	image/pjpeg
.jpb	application/octet-stream
.jpe	image/jpeg
.jpeg	image/jpeg
.jpg	image/jpeg
.js	application/x-javascript
.latex	application/x-latex
.lit	application/x-ms-reader
.lpk	application/octet-stream
.lsf	video/x-la-asf
.lsx	video/x-la-asf
.lzh	application/octet-stream
.m13	application/x-msmediaview
.m14	application/x-msmediaview
.m1v	video/mpeg
.m3u	audio/x-mpegurl
.man	application/x-troff-man
.manifest	application/x-ms-manifest
.map	text/plain
.mdb	application/x-msaccess
.mdp	application/octet-stream
.me	application/x-troff-me
.mht	message/rfc822
.mhtml	message/rfc822
.mid	audio/mid
.midi	audio/mid
.mix	application/octet-stream
.mmf	application/x-smaf
.mno	text/xml
.mny	application/x-msmoney
.mov	video/quicktime
.movie	video/x-sgi-movie
.mp2	video/mpeg
.mp3	audio/mpeg
.mp4	audio/mpeg
.mpa	video/mpeg
.mpe	video/mpeg
.mpeg	video/mpeg
.mpg	video/mpeg
.mpp	application/vnd.ms-project
.mpv2	video/mpeg
.ms	application/x-troff-ms
.msi	application/octet-stream
.mvb	application/x-msmediaview
.nc	application/x-netcdf
.nsc	video/x-ms-asf
.nws	message/rfc822
.ocx	application/octet-stream
.oda	application/oda
.ods	application/oleobject
.p10	application/pkcs10
.p12	application/x-pkcs12
.p7b	application/x-pkcs7-certificates
.p7c	application/pkcs7-mime
.p7m	application/pkcs7-mime
.p7r	application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp
.p7s	application/pkcs7-signature
.pbm	image/x-portable-bitmap
.pcx	application/octet-stream
.pcz	application/octet-stream
.pdf	application/pdf
.pfb	application/octet-stream
.pfm	application/octet-stream
.pfx	application/x-pkcs12
.pgm	image/x-portable-graymap
.pko	application/vnd.ms-pki.pko
.pma	application/x-perfmon
.pmc	application/x-perfmon
.pml	application/x-perfmon
.pmr	application/x-perfmon
.pmw	application/x-perfmon
.png	image/png
.pnm	image/x-portable-anymap
.pnz	image/png
.pot	application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.ppm	image/x-portable-pixmap
.pps	application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.ppt	application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
.prf	application/pics-rules
.prm	application/octet-stream
.prx	application/octet-stream
.ps	application/postscript
.psd	application/octet-stream
.psm	application/octet-stream
.psp	application/octet-stream
.pub	application/x-mspublisher
.qt	video/quicktime
.qtl	application/x-quicktimeplayer
.qxd	application/octet-stream
.ra	audio/x-pn-realaudio
.ram	audio/x-pn-realaudio
.rar	application/octet-stream
.ras	image/x-cmu-raster
.rdf	application/rdf+xml
.rf	image/vnd.rn-realflash
.rgb	image/x-rgb
.rm	application/vnd.rn-realmedia
.rmi	audio/mid
.roff	application/x-troff
.rpm	audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin
.rtf	application/rtf
.rtx	text/richtext
.scd	application/x-msschedule
.sct	text/scriptlet
.sea	application/octet-stream
.setpay	application/set-payment-initiation
.setreg	application/set-registration-initiation
.sgml	text/sgml
.sh	application/x-sh
.shar	application/x-shar
.sit	application/x-stuffit
.sldasm	application/octet-stream
.sldprt	application/octet-stream
.smd	audio/x-smd
.smi	application/octet-stream
.smx	audio/x-smd
.smz	audio/x-smd
.snd	audio/basic
.snp	application/octet-stream
.spc	application/x-pkcs7-certificates
.spl	application/futuresplash
.src	application/x-wais-source
.ssm	application/streamingmedia
.sst	application/vnd.ms-pki.certstore
.stl	application/vnd.ms-pki.stl
.sv4cpio	application/x-sv4cpio
.sv4crc	application/x-sv4crc
.svg	application/octet-stream
.swf	application/x-shockwave-flash
.t	application/x-troff
.tar	application/x-tar
.tcl	application/x-tcl
.tex	application/x-tex
.texi	application/x-texinfo
.texinfo	application/x-texinfo
.tgz	application/x-compressed
.thn	application/octet-stream
.tif	image/tiff
.tiff	image/tiff
.toc	application/octet-stream
.tr	application/x-troff
.trm	application/x-msterminal
.tsv	text/tab-separated-values
.ttf	application/octet-stream
.txt	text/plain
.u32	application/octet-stream
.uls	text/iuls
.ustar	application/x-ustar
.vbs	text/vbscript
.vcf	text/x-vcard
.vcs	text/plain
.vdx	application/vnd.visio
.vml	text/xml
.vsd	application/vnd.visio
.vss	application/vnd.visio
.vst	application/vnd.visio
.vsw	application/vnd.visio
.vsx	application/vnd.visio
.vtx	application/vnd.visio
.wav	audio/wav
.wax	audio/x-ms-wax
.wbmp	image/vnd.wap.wbmp
.wcm	application/vnd.ms-works
.wdb	application/vnd.ms-works
.wks	application/vnd.ms-works
.wm	video/x-ms-wm
.wma	audio/x-ms-wma
.wmd	application/x-ms-wmd
.wmf	application/x-msmetafile
.wml	text/vnd.wap.wml
.wmlc	application/vnd.wap.wmlc
.wmls	text/vnd.wap.wmlscript
.wmlsc	application/vnd.wap.wmlscriptc
.wmp	video/x-ms-wmp
.wmv	video/x-ms-wmv
.wmx	video/x-ms-wmx
.wmz	application/x-ms-wmz
.world	application/octet-stream
.wps	application/vnd.ms-works
.wri	application/x-mswrite
.wrl	x-world/x-vrml
.wrz	x-world/x-vrml
.wsdl	text/xml
.wvx	video/x-ms-wvx
.x	application/directx
.xaf	x-world/x-vrml
.xbm	image/x-xbitmap
.xdr	text/plain
.xla	application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlc	application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlm	application/vnd.ms-excel
.xls	application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlt	application/vnd.ms-excel
.xlw	application/vnd.ms-excel
.xml	text/xml
.xof	x-world/x-vrml
.xpm	image/x-xpixmap
.xsd	text/xml
.xsf	text/xml
.xsl	text/xml
.xslt	text/xml
.xsn	application/octet-stream
.xwd	image/x-xwindowdump
.z	application/x-compress
.zip	application/x-zip-compressed

Add-on: User Agent Switcher

The User Agent Switcher extension adds a menu to Mozilla browser and a toolbar button to switch the user agent of a browser. It is a wonderful tool for developers and designers to view different types of user agents in same browser. You can set a default user agent and can switch between different agents like Internet Explorer, Mozilla, IPhone and other Search robots. See the below image how you can switch between user agents.

You can edit the User agent options by editing user agents from toolbar menu. See this image to see available user agents.

You can download this add on for Mozilla here or you can search for this add on at Mozilla.

Time, Anger and Disrespect

Time is precious to everyone. It’s a bad habit to keep other people waiting. Almost everyone feels that one of their most valued commodities is their time. This being the case, one of the ultimate slaps and most sure way to annoy someone is to keep them waiting. While most people are somewhat forgiving, keeping them waiting is a sign of disrespect. The subtle message is, “My time is more important than yours.”
Deep down, we all know that no one likes to be kept waiting. Therefore, it’s highly stressful to keep other people waiting because you know you are disappointing someone. In the back of your mind, you know well the person is looking at his watch, wondering why you are late. You may be keeping him from personal or professional commitments and that could make him angry.
There are obviously exceptions to the rule – times when factors beyond your control prevent you from being on time. Things happen to all of us, and no one has a perfect record. Truthfully, however, a vast majority of the time, being late is preventable by planning ahead, allowing a little extra time, or making allowances for unexpected problems.
Many times we compound the problem by making excuse like “traffic was horrible,” when, in reality, traffic is virtually always horrible. The problem wasn’t traffic – but the fact that we didn’t factor enough time in our schedule for the traffic. It’s likely the case that, even if traffic was horrible, or you got off to a late start, or whatever the excuse, the other person isn’t going to be interested or impressed.
I wouldn’t underestimate the negative impact of making someone wait. It drives some people crazy. And, even if they don’t express their frustration to you directly, it can show up in other ways – not taking you seriously, avoiding you when possible, being disrespectful, choosing to spend their time with others instead of you, showing up late to your future appointments, etc.

What is a Virtual Machine?

Virtual machine is a tightly isolated software container that can run its own operating systems and applications as if it were a physical computer. A virtual machine behaves exactly like a physical computer and contains it own virtual (i.e., software-based) CPU, RAM hard disk and network interface card (NIC).
An operating system can’t tell the difference between a virtual machine and a physical machine, nor can applications or other computers on a network. Even the virtual machine thinks it is a “real” computer. Nevertheless, a virtual machine is composed entirely of software and contains no hardware components whatsoever. As a result, virtual machines offer a number of distinct advantages over physical hardware.

VMs are created within a virtualization layer, such as a hypervisor or a virtualization platform that runs on top of a client or server operating system. This operating system is known as the host OS. The virtualization layer can be used to create many individual, isolated VM environments.

Typically, guest operating systems and programs are not aware that they are running on a virtual platform and, as long as the VM's virtual platform is supported, this software can be installed in the same way it would be deployed to physical server hardware. For example, the guest OS might appear to have a physical hard disk attached to it, but actual I/O requests are translated by the virtualization layer so they actually occur against a file that is accessible by the host OS.

Virtual machines can provide numerous advantages over the installation of OS's and software directly on physical hardware. Isolation ensures that applications and services that run within a VM cannot interfere with the host OS or other VMs. VMs can also be easily moved, copied, and reassigned between host servers to optimize hardware resource utilization. Administrators can also take advantage of virtual environments to simply backups, disaster recovery, new deployments and basic system administration tasks. The use of virtual machines also comes with several important management considerations, many of which can be addressed through general systems administration best practices and tools that are designed to managed VMs.