Step By Step Procedure To Configure IIS On The Windows Server

Even today, IIS is a popular choice for many web developers or web application hosting services, as it offers many features and can be easily integrated with other Microsoft products. However, for people, especially from a non-windows background, it can be complex to set up and Configure IIS on the Windows Server. We tried to solve this problem through this post. We created this post for those who struggle to configure IIS on the Windows platform.

We will start this post with what IIS is, its important pros and cons, its installation, important roles and features, and finally, a step-by-step procedure to configure IIS on the Windows server. 

What Is IIS Server?

Internet Information Services (IIS, formerly Internet Information Server) is an extensible web server created by Microsoft for use with the Windows NT family. IIS supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, FTPS, SMTP, and NNTP. It has been an integral part of the Windows NT family since Windows NT 4.0, though it may be absent from some editions (e.g. Windows XP Home edition), and is not active by default.

IIS is a set of Internet-based services that share a common graphical user interface (GUI). The IIS management console allows an administrator to configure the services, administer security, and manage website content. In addition to the management console, IIS provides a set of graphical utilities for performing common tasks, such as creating and editing websites, managing user accounts, and configuring security settings.

General Pros And Cons Of Using IIS Server:

Benefits Of Using IIS:

1. IIS is a feature-rich web server that can be easily integrated with other Microsoft products.
2. IIS is easy to set up and manage, making it a good choice for small businesses or those new to web hosting.

Drawbacks Of Using IIS:

1. IIS can be complex to set up and manage, especially if you are not familiar with Microsoft products.
2. IIS is often the target of attacks due to its popularity, so it is important to keep your IIS installation up-to-date and secure

Installation Of IIS Server

IIS is not installed by default on Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016. It can be added through the “Turn Windows features on or off” dialog in the Control Panel or using the following PowerShell cmdlets:

Install-WindowsFeature Web-Server
Install-WindowsFeature Web-Asp-Net
Install-WindowsFeature Web-Mgmt-Console

Once IIS is installed, the services can be started and stopped using the “net start,” and “net stop” commands. The default website can be accessed at http://localhost.

Roles And Features Of IIS Server

IIS has a modular design that allows functionality to be added or removed via “roles” and “features.” By default, IIS includes the following roles and features:

• Web Server (IIS) role: This is the core component of IIS and includes the web server, configurable security settings, and management tools.
• Common HTTP Features: This includes static content, default document, directory browsing, and HTTP errors.
• Dynamic Content: This includes ASP.NET, server-side Includes, and WebDAV publishing.
• Application Development: This includes .NET Extensibility, ISAPI Extensions, and ISAPI Filters.
• Health and Diagnostics: This includes HTTP logging, request tracing, and custom errors.
• Security: This includes request filtering, IP and domain restrictions, and Basic authentication.
• Performance: This includes caching and compression.
• Management Tools: This includes the IIS Management Console and IIS Management Scripts and Tools.

IIS can be managed using the IIS Manager GUI or through a command-line interface using the “appcmd” tool.

Adding The Components Of IIS Server

IIS can be extended by installing additional roles and features, such as ASP.NET, PHP, or a media streaming server. These components can be added through the “Turn Windows features on or off” dialog in the Control Panel or using the following PowerShell cmdlets:

Install-WindowsFeature Web-Asp-Net
Install-WindowsFeature Web-PHP
Install-WindowsFeature Web-Media-Streaming

IIS is a flexible and versatile web server that can be configured to suit a wide variety of needs. It can be used for simple websites or complex web applications and is an essential component of any Windows Server deployment.

IIS can be found on Windows Server 2021, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003. It is also available as a free download for Windows 10.

IIS is a popular web server used by many businesses and organizations. It is easy to set up and configure and can be customized to suit your specific needs. IIS is a reliable and secure web server that will keep your website running smoothly.

That’s it. See how easy to configure IIS on the Windows Server.

We hope this post will show you step by step procedure to Configure IIS on the Windows Server. Please share this post and help to secure the digital world. Visit our social media page on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, Tumblr, & Medium and subscribe to receive updates like this.

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