Configuration File Dotnet

   It is an optional XML File which stores configuration details for a specific asp.net web application.

What is Machine.config File?

The Machine.Config file, which specifies the settings that are global to a particular machine. This file is located at the following path:

\WINNT\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[Framework Version]\CONFIG\machine.config

As web.config file is used to configure one asp .net web application, same way Machine.config file is used to configure the application according to a particular machine. That is, configuration done in machine.config file is affected on any application that runs on a particular machine. Usually, this file is not altered and only web.config is used which configuring applications.

You can override settings in the Machine.Config file for all the applications in a particular Web site by placing a Web.Config file in the root directory of the Web site as follows:

\InetPub\wwwroot\Web.Config

Macine Config VS WebConfiguration

Difference between Machine.Config and Web.Config

Machine.Config:

i) This is automatically installed when you install Visual Studio. Net.
ii) This is also called machine level configuration file.
iii)Only one machine.config file exists on a server.
iv) This file is at the highest level in the configuration hierarchy.

Web.Config:

i) This is automatically created when you create an ASP.Net web application project.

ii) This is also called application level configuration file.

iii)This file inherits setting from the machine.config