PRB: Session_OnStart Event Enters Infinite Loop (284466)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Active Server Pages

This article was previously published under Q284466

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Response.Redirect method in the Session_OnStart event, the event enters an infinite loop.

CAUSE

When a user browses the first .asp page in a Web site, the Global.asa file in that virtual directory fires the Session_OnStart event. If the user is redirected to another page in the same application, Global.asa fires the Session_OnStart event again. This behavior continues until a session is initialized. As a result, if the user is redirected before the session is initialized, the server continually fires a new session.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, provide code that initializes the session prior to redirection. For example:

<SCRIPT RUNAT=Server LANGUAGE=VBScript>
Sub Session_OnStart
    'Add code here to initialize the session
    Session("init") = True
    Response.Redirect("somepage.asp")
End Sub
</SCRIPT>

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Add three pages, named Page1.asp, Page2.asp, and Global.asa, to an Internet Information Server (IIS) application.

Paste the following code in the Global.asa file:

<SCRIPT RUNAT=Server LANGUAGE=VBScript>
Sub Session_OnStart
    Response.Redirect("Page2.asp")
End Sub
</SCRIPT>

In your Internet browser, browse to Page1.asp. The browser is caught in a loop between Page1.asp and Page2.asp.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	5/8/2001
Keywords:	kbASPObj kbDSupport kbprb kbScript kbWebServer KB284466