Install IIS and configure a website

This article shows you how to install the Internet Information Services (IIS) role on your Windows® server. It also explains how to configure a website in IIS. The steps shown in this article are the same for Windows Server® 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019.

IIS

IIS is a web server available for Windows operating systems. Use it to host websites, FTP sites, and other applications on the Internet. It offers a graphic user interface to configure and manage these services.

Install the IIS role

Use the following steps to install the IIS role on your Windows server. Keep in mind that you need administrator permissions to perform these tasks.

1. To open the Server Manager, click on the Server Manager icon in the taskbar.

2. On the upper right-hand side, click Manage -> Add Roles and Features.

3. Advance through the installation wizard until you reach the Server Roles section.

4. Select Web Server (IIS), select Add Features, and click Next.

5. In the Features section, you can select any additional features that you want to install. Because you do not have to select additional features to install IIS, click Next.

6. In the Role Services section, choose all the roles you want to install. You can keep the default selection or add additional roles, such as the FTP server and HTTP redirection. If needed, you can add roles after you install IIS.

7. On the Confirmation page, you can opt to restart the server automatically, if needed. After you verify the roles and features, click Install.

8. To confirm that the installation succeeded, open the Internet Explorer and enter localhost. A default generic website displays.

Configure a website in IIS

Use the following steps to configure a website in IIS. Keep in mind that you need administrator permissions to perform these tasks.

1. To open IIS, click the Windows Start button on the lower left-hand side and type in IIS.

2. Click the arrow next to your server name to expand the Sites menu.

3. Right-click Sites and select Add Website.

4. Fill in the following information for your website:

   • Site name: This is the name that displays in IIS.

   • Application pool: By default, the process creates a new application pool with the site name.

   • Physical path: This is the physical location where your website files are stored on the server. By default, website files are stored under C:\inetpup\wwwroot.

   • Binding: Choose HTTP (port 80), or if you have an SSL certificate for your website, choose HTTPS (port 443). You can keep the default IP address as All Unassigned or assign a specific IP to this website. Finally, select the host name for your site.

   • If you want to start the website right away, click Start Website immediately.

Now, your website displays under Sites in IIS. To further configure the settings, right-click on the site.