Steps to replicate the issue.

> Run Spotfire Server heath check using > http://<spotfireservername>/spotfire/rest/status/getStatus
> Internet Explorer prompts to download "getStatus.json"

This is a default behavior of Internet Explorer.

Firefox and Chrome do not show this behavior as they have a built-in JSON reader. When a website presents Internet Explorer a header with the content "application/json", it prompts to download it.

Work around for the issue "Internet-Explorer-prompts-to-download-getStatus-json-when-running-health-check-for-Spotfire-server".

All supported Windows OS versions

Force Internet Explorer to show the JSON object using the following workaround. You can configure Internet Explorer to display "application/json" in the browser window by updating the Windows Registry.

Steps:
> Stop existing Internet Explorer sessions.
> Then cut and paste the below into a file (e.g: notepad.exe)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

 Tell IE to open JSON documents in the browser.  
 25336920-03F9-11cf-8FD0-00AA00686F13 is the CLSID for the "Browse in place" .
  

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/json]
"CLSID"="{25336920-03F9-11cf-8FD0-00AA00686F13}"
"Encoding"=hex:08,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\text/json]
"CLSID"="{25336920-03F9-11cf-8FD0-00AA00686F13}"
"Encoding"=hex:08,00,00,00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Name the file "json-ie.reg" and save it
> Now right click on the file "json-ie.reg" and click "Merge"
> Accept the warning by clicking "yes"

Refer to the attached document (Filename: getstatus.jason.pdf)  for more information. You may need to make the above registry settings on all the machines where the issue is seen.

Disclaimer:
The changes mentioned in this Knowledge Base is specific to the Windows Operating system and Internet explorer. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to re-install Windows to correct them. Always take a registry backup before editing. It is recommended to loop in a Windows/Operating system expert OR use this at your own risk.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2483771/how-can-i-convince-ie-to-simply-display-application-json-rather-than-offer-to-do