Thanks for taking the time to reply Julian, but you've totally missed the nature of the problem...
I have no issue 'moving' a DNN site / database etc.
The problem is to do with inheritance (standard IIS behavior) of modules and configuration within the web.config
I've got COMMERCE SERVER installed on the 'default' web - which is essential to the running of my company primary website.
I'm setting up a DNN portal, to serve a specific purpose for a 'community' aspect of our business
www.company.com/community
where community is my DNN portal
the problem is that settings in the default web.config (and machine.config for that matter) are inherited by my 'sub-web' because of the many assemblies as a part of the commerce server site - first - dnn would not run at all.
I spent many hours 'trying' to explicitly 'remove' all assemblies/modules/handlers from the web.config for the DNN application - but with no success.
eventually - taking the sledgehammer approach - I have used the tag - < clear /> within the httpModules section which has NEARLY got the site working.
Ie - the site is browsable however a couple of significant issues remain.
1. Images are not rendered
2. (and more significantly) Sign in is not possible. I can see from my SQL logs, that it performs the validation of the user account - however it seems that IIS is not effectively creating a session for the validated user.
I'm really starting to tear my hair out over this - and cant believe that ultimately i dont just have to 'add' a couple of httpModules or something to resolve it in web.config.
ANYONE? (ps - this is not a question for people who don't really understand the workings of assemblies/web.config/IIS etc)
thanks! - free beer for whoever solves this one...