HOW TO: Remotely Administer Internet Information Services 5.0 in Windows 2000

This article explains the various methods that are available to remotely manage Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0.

Two options are available to remotely administer IIS. To remotely administer IIS over the Internet or through a proxy server, use the browser-based Internet Services Manager (HTML). To remotely administer IIS over an intranet, you can use either the browser-based Internet Services Manager (HTML) or the IIS snap-in that is hosted in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

NOTE: You can also use Microsoft Terminal Services over a network connection to remotely administer IIS.

How to Remotely Administer IIS by Using a Web Browser

Enable Browser-based Internet Services Manager (HTML)

1. Log on to the Web server computer by using an account that has administrative privileges.
2. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
   
   The Computer Management snap-in starts.
3. Under Services and Applications, expand Internet Information Services.
4. Right-click Administration Web Site, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu that appears.
5. Under Web Site Identification, record the number that is displayed in the TCP Port box. For example, 2844.
6. Click the Directory Security tab, and then click the Edit button under IP address and domain name restrictions.
7. In the IP Address and Domain Name Restriction dialog box that appears, do one of the following:
   • Click Granted Access if you want to allow all computers to administer IIS remotely.
     
     NOTE: If you want to maintain the highest level of security, this is not recommended.
     
     -or-
   • Click Denied Access (if it is not already selected), and then click Add. The Grant Access On dialog box appears. Under Type, do one of the following:
     • Click Single computer.
       Type the IP address of the computer that you want in the IP Address box, and then click OK.
     • Click Group of computers.
       Type the Network ID and the Subnet Mask of the group into the corresponding boxes, and then click OK.
     • Click Domain name.
       Type the domain name that you want in the Domain Name box, and then click OK.
8. When you are finished granting access, click OK.
9. In the Administration Web Site Properties dialog box, click OK. If an Inheritance Overrides dialog box appears, click Select All to apply the new security settings to the Child Nodes, and then click OK.
   
   You are returned to the Computer Management window.
10. Quit the Computer Management snap-in.

Use the Browser-based Internet Service Manager (HTML)

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer, and then type the domain name of the Web server, followed by the port number that you recorded, in the Address box. Click Go.
   
   For example, if you recorded a port number of 2844, type a URL similar to one of the following examples:
   • If you are on the Internet:
     http://www.microsoft.com:2844
     Note the colon between the URL and the port number.
     
     -or-
   • If you are on an intranet:
     http://server name:2844
     where server name is the name of the Web server.
     
     -or-
     http://IP address:2844
     where IP address is the IP address of the Web server.

Internet Services Manager opens in the browser window. Use the links in the left pane to administer IIS.

How to Remotely Administer IIS by Using the IIS Snap-in

1. On a computer on the network, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Services Manager.
   
   The Internet Information Services snap-in starts.
2. On the toolbar, click the Add a computer to the list button. The Connect To Computer dialog box appears.
3. In the Computer Name box, type the computer name that you want, and then click OK.
   
   The computer appears under Internet Information Services in the Tree pane.
   
   NOTE: If you do not have Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) installed, you will be unable to add computers that are not in your local subnet.
4. Expand Computer name, where Computer name is the name of the computer that you added in step 3.

Use the Internet Information Services snap-in to remotely manage IIS.

For additional information about IIS remote administration, search for remote administration in the IIS 5.0 documentation, and then browse the documents returned. If IIS 5.0 is installed, browse to the following Web site: