How To Troubleshoot the Web Server in Windows 2000

This step-by-step article describes how to troubleshoot problems that you may encounter with a Windows 2000 Server-based Web server.

The Web Server Is Not Responding

Verify That the Network Connections Are Enabled

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Network and Dial-up connection.
4. Click Local area connection.
5. In the dialog box that opens, verify that under Connection, Status is listed as Connected.

Verify That the IIssrv.exe Program Is Running

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
2. Click Task Manager.
3. On the Processes tab, verify that the IIssrv.exe program is listed in the Image Name column.

Restart IIS Services

1. Click Start.
2. Click Programs.
3. Click Administrative Tools.
4. Click IIS Management.
5. Right-click the Web server in the IIS Management tool, and then click Restart IIS to restart the IIS services.

Verify That Startup Type Is Set to Automatic

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Services.
4. Double-click specific service for which the startup type has to be configured.
5. In the dialog box that opens, verify that the Startup type box is set to Automatic.

Users Cannot Access the Web Server Even Though the Server Is Running, and the Network and Internet Connections are Enabled

Verify That WINS Server Is Installed

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Networking Services.
7. Click Details.
8. Verify that the WINS Server check box is selected, and properly configured on the network. Also verify that it is functioning.

Verify That DNS Server Is Installed

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Networking Services.
7. Click Details.
8. Verify that DNS is installed, and that the DNS servers (or server) are connected and working on the network.

Test the Network Connection

Use a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer from different client computers and locations to test the network connection. By doing this you can determine if the problem is due to a network segment location, the Internet connection, or a specific client that cannot connect access the server.

Users Can Access Web Server but Not the Contents on Web Server

Verify the Authentication and Encryption Levels on the Web Server

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click the Web site, and then click Properties.
5. On the Directory Security tab, under anonymous access and authentication control, click Edit.
6. Verify that the correct authentication and encryption settings are set at the server.

Verify the Web Sharing Permissions

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click the default Web site, and then click Properties.
5. On the Directory Security tab, under anonymous access and authentication control, click Edit.
6. Verify that the appropriate client access settings are set, such as the following permissions:
   • Read files
   • Write
   • Directory browsing
   • Run scripts

Verify That IP Address and Domain Name Are Not Set to Deny Access

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click the default Web site, and then click Properties.
5. On the Directory Services tab, under IP Address and Domain Name Restrictions, click Edit.
6. Verify that the IP address and Domain name Restrictions are not set to Deny.

Verify That the Root Folder and All Files Are Present and Intact

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click the default Web site, and then click Open.
5. Verify that the \Inetpub\wwwroot\ folder is intact and that it includes all of the necessary .html files for the Web site.

Users Cannot Use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) with Web Server

Verify that the FTP Server Service Is Installed

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Internet Information Service (IIS).
7. Click Details.
8. Verify that the FTP Server check box is selected. If it is not selected, then click to select it.

Verify the Permissions for FTP

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click the default FTP site, and then click Properties.
5. On the Home Directory tab, grant the appropriate permissions on folders that are used for FTP, including the ability to write for those who upload documents to the server.

Verify That the Default FTP Publishing Service Is Started

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click the default FTP site.
5. Verify that the Default FTP Publishing Service is started.

Users Cannot Send or Receive E-mail Messages Through the Web Server

Verify That SMTP Service Is Installed

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Internet Information Service (IIS).
7. Click Details.
8. Verify that the SMTP Server check box is selected. If it is not selected, then click to select it.

Verify That SMTP Service Is Started

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. In the right panel, verify that Default SMTP Service is listed as Started in the Status column.

Newsgroups Are Not Supported on the Web Server

Verify That NNTP Service Is Installed

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Internet Information Service (IIS).
7. Click Details.
8. Verify that the NNTP check box is selected. If it is not selected, then click to select it.

Verify That There Are Virtual Directories Set Up for Newsgroup

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Expand NNTP Virtual Server.
5. Click Virtual Directories.
6. Verify that there are virtual directories set up for the newsgroup.

Verify the Security and Size Settings for Users

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click NNTP Virtual Server.
5. On the Access tab, click the Authentication button.
6. On the Setting tab, configure the proper settings for size and postings.
7. On the Security tab, grant appropriate permissions to the windows user account.

Verify That Users Are Connecting to the Service

1. Right click the My Computer icon on the desktop, and then click Manage.
2. In the Computer Management dialog box, expand Services and Applications.
3. Double-click Internet Information Services.
4. Expand NNTP Virtual Server.
5. Click Current Session and verify that the users are connecting to the service.

Users Cannot Publish Internet Pages on Web Server by Using FrontPage

Verify That FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions Are Installed

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Internet Information Service (IIS).
7. Click Details.
8. Verify that the FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions are installed.

Verify That FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions Are Configured

1. Click Start.
2. Point to Settings.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Add/Remove program.
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
6. Click Internet Information Service (IIS).
7. Right-click Web site.
8. Click All Tasks.
9. Click Configure Server Extensions.