Slow Initial Server Response

Question

We have an ASP classic website running on an IIS 7.5 dedicated server with no other sites running on it.

The wait time for the homepage on the initial request is about 5.2 seconds but then subsequent wait times are a much more acceptable 133ms.

I am not sure why this is happening. Is there an app pool setting that I can check?

Solution 1

After a thorough investigation I discovered that the slow initial Time to First Byte was caused by the database connection string. A period "." was being used for the default server instance name rather than the name of the server being specified. When I changed the period to the server name the TTFB dropped to normal levels.

Thanks very much to all who answered.

Solution 2

IIS7.5 has a plugin which initializes applications and helps reduce the slower performance of that initial load after an IIS restart or app pool recycle.

You can also install this via the Web Platform Installer.

Once installed you should notice there is a new option in the Advanced Settings of each IIS application pool allowed you to control this action on an application pool basis.