asp.net mvc - Deploying an ASP MVC application to Windows 2008 server running IIS 7.5 -

i've been digging around trying solid information how go doing this. of info i've found talks web deploy visual studio 20xx, i'm not sure if preferred method. want able "install" mvc website/web application staging, after testing/defecting fixing cycle, build , install on production environment. how going doing this? seems rather strange documentation loose , limited. isn't asp.net dev companies do? can explain me best approach rolling out , updating web apps win2008 iis 7.5? i'm looking nicely packaged installer.

there multiple ways publish web site. solution depends on many factors, such whether publishing internally, or externally. if creating install third parties install on own servers, etc..

if have direct file system (ie network share) access web servers, , aren't concerned formal build process separate build servers, etc.. using built-in web publishing functionality of visual studio simplest method. publish directly filesystem of website's virtual directory. works , supports scenarios out of box.

if, however, larger organization , want more controls. can install webdeploy on server , publish visual studio using webdeploy agent, although webdeploy tricky setup , not documented. webdeploy can used outside of visual studio , has rich feature set.

some people use version control deploy sites. build, check version control, "get latest" servers virtual directory. gives them ability roll previous versions or point in time.

others use build , deploy tools msbuild, octopusdeploy, chuck norris, etc...

yet others use continuous integration tools, may use of tools i've mentioned. ci servers teamcity, cruisecontrol.net, etc...

there wealth of information out there, , tons of ways this... since of personal choice , depends on situation, can't definitively "do this" or "do that".