Internet Information Services (IIS)

Internet Information Services (IIS) is a flexible, secure and manageable Microsoft’s Web server developed by Microsoft for hosting anything on the Web. Whether it’s a simple HTML website or a complex ASP.NET application, IIS provides the necessary tools and environment to deliver content to users over the internet or intranet. It is available as a feature in Microsoft Windows operating systems.

What is IIS?

IIS is a web server software package designed for Windows Server environments. It supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, FTPS, SMTP, etc. IIS plays a crucial role in web hosting and application deployment within the Microsoft ecosystem.

• Modular Architecture: Allows administrators to add or remove components as needed.
• Security: Includes support for SSL/TLS, request filtering, and authentication methods.
• Logging and Diagnostics: Offers detailed logging and real-time monitoring.
• Application Pool Isolation: Provides process and resource isolation between websites.
• ASP.NET Integration: Seamless support for ASP.NET web applications.
• FTP Server Capabilities: Allows file transfer and remote content management.

How to Enable IIS

Steps to enable it are as follows:

• Open the Control Panel.
• Click on Programs and Features.
• Select Turn Windows features on or off.
• In the dialog box, check the box labeled Internet Information Services.

• Click OK and wait for Windows to install IIS.
• Restart the system to apply the changes.

File Structure of IIS

• C:\inetpub\wwwroot – The default directory where web applications and HTML files are stored.
• C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles – Contains logs generated by IIS for each website.
• C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv – Contains IIS core binaries and configuration tools.
• ApplicationHost.config – Central configuration file for IIS, found under %windir%\System32\inetsrv\config.

Deploy an Application in IIS

1. Place your web application files (HTML, ASP.NET, etc.) in a folder, typically under C:\inetpub\wwwroot or a new directory.
2. Open IIS Manager (type inetmgr in the Run dialog).
3. Right-click on Sites and select Add Website.
4. Enter the Site Name, Physical Path to your application, and choose a Port Number.
5. Click OK to create the site.
6. Browse to http://localhost:[port] to verify deployment.