Prepare the Web Server - IIS
To prepare the web server prior to installing
IIS Roles and Features
Install the Web Server (IIS) role (if it is not already installed) and make sure the following role services are also installed. (Instructions follow this table for Windows 2019, 2016 and 2012.)
| Windows 2019 | Windows 2016/2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Web Server | ||
| Common HTTP Features | ||
| Default Document | x | x |
| Directory Browsing | x | x |
| HTTP Errors | x | x |
| Static Content | x | x |
| HTTP Redirection | x | |
| Health and Diagnostics | ||
| HTTP Logging | x | x |
| Custom Logging | x | x |
| Logging Tools | x | x |
| Request Monitor | x | |
| Performance | ||
| Static Content Compression | x | x |
| Dynamic Content Compression | x | x |
| Security | ||
| Request Filtering | x | x |
| IP and Domain Restrictions | x | x |
| Windows Authentication | x | x |
| Application Development | ||
| .NET Extensibility 4.7 | x | |
| .NET Extensibility 4.5 or 4.6 | x | |
| Application Initialization | x | x |
| ASP.NET 4.7 | x | |
| ASP.NET 4.5 or 4.6 | x | |
| ISAPI Extensions | x | x |
| ISAPI Filters | x | x |
| Management Tools | ||
| IIS Management Console | x | x |
Note that if you do not already have the required version of the .NET Framework installed, you will need to have the operating system installation media available when you install the Web Server (IIS role). The required file is in the sources/sxs folder.
- Open the Server Manager.
- Click the Manage menu, choose Add Roles and Features and proceed through the wizard.
- On the Server Roles page, select Web Server (IIS).
- If the role is already installed, expand the node, review the services that are already installed and select additional services if applicable.
- If the role is not already installed, accept any prompts to install required features and proceed to the Web Server (IIS) > Role Services page, where you can select the services you need to install.
- At the end of the wizard, click Install.
SSL Certificate
If you want the website to use HTTPS for secure communication (SSL/TLS), you must have a digital certificate. Later, you will use this certificate to create the binding for the site. (See Enable HTTPS for Secure Communication.)
If you don’t purchase a third-party certificate, you can create your own via another method, such as by generating a self-signed certificate using IIS Manager or using the Active Directory Certificate Services role installed on the server.