c# - ASP.NET MVC - Slow initial load

Question

I've recently created an asp.net mvc web application and published it online.

When first loading the website you should find that it takes around 10-15 seconds for it to actually show, however after it's clicked once, it loads as quickly as I expect the second time round. I'm just wondering if anyone may have an idea of why the website is taking so long?

Answer 1

I also had same problem, with slow first loading asp.net mvc sites, finally I found the best way for load a site, extremly fast in first load.

My solution is for windows server 2008 r2 and IIS 7.5, but in upper windows servers and upper iis versions also work, with some simple diferences.

First of all, you must set startMode of your application pool to always running, this will prevent your application pool from sleeping, after some time. (in my case just this step changes my sites first load from 45-55 seconds to about 8-12 seconds).

in step one, there is no first request for your website, for preloading your website, we need another step, that is by installing Application Initialization module for iis7.5 from here

in step two, you must set preloadEnabled=true for your website, this option is what application initialization added to site settings.

For more information and how you can set these option please refer to this blog post: http://blogs.iis.net/wadeh/application-initialization-part-2

after step two, my web site loads in just 1-3 seconds.