ASP.NET url changes with 301 permanent redirect

I deployed a new ASP.NET MVC web site and needed to indicate to google and links from other sites that the url for most pages had permanently changed (rather than give them a 404 error).

Adding simple dummy .aspx files for these old pages with the following (non-code behind) script with a 301 HTTP response did the trick with little fuss:


<%@ Page Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="false" Inherits="System.Web.UI.Page" %>
<script runat="server">
    protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnLoad(e);
        // Tell old links to go to the new url:
        Response.Status = "301 Moved Permanently";
Response.AddHeader("Location","http://www.mydomain.com/mynewurl");
    }
</script>

At some point I'll simply delete them once I think the important external links have been updated.