Installing Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS)

What is IIS¶

IIS is short for Internet Information Server. IIS is Microsoft's web server.

Installing IIS¶

The following instructions can be used to install IIS on Microsoft Windows XP Professional.

First, go into the "Add or Remove Programs" dialog found in the Windows Control Panel and click on "Add/Remove Windows Components".
In the Windows Components Wizard, click on the check box next to "Internet Information Services (IIS)".
Click the "Next" button. You may be required to insert the Windows install CD to proceed.
In the final window that pops up click on "Finish" to complete the installation.

For Windows 2003 Server, the process is only slightly different.

Go to the "Add or Remove Programs" dialog found in the Windows Control Panel and click on "Add/Remove Windows Components".
In the Windows Components Wizard, under components, click the check box next to "Application Server". This will perform a default installtion of IIS.
Click "Next" and then "Finish" to complete the installation.

Configuring IIS¶

Once you have installed IIS, it is a good idea to run a Windows Update to make sure your computer has all of the latest security patches. Use the following steps to run a Windows Update:

Using Internet Explorer, go to the "tools" menu and select "Windows update".
Install the latest version of windows update if necessary.
Click "custom updates" (as opposed to "express").
Click to Install all recomended security patches.

In order to run web services, Default.aspx must be a registered document type with IIS. To register this type:

In Control Panel, open Administrative Tools.
Click to open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
In IIS Manager, expand (local computer), and then Web Sites, so that you see "Default Web Site."
Right click Default Web Site and click Properties.
In the Properties dialog, click the Documents tab.
Click Add.
Type "Default.aspx" without the quotes, and click OK.
Click OK to close the properties dialog. You may now close IIS Manager.