IIS 4.0 Recommended Installation Procedure

Pre-Installation Suggestions

• Name your Web server wisely. Even though Windows NT allows you to rename a computer running Internet Information Server (IIS), it is not recommended. The IIS metabase has entries that are computer-specific and may have problems under certain circumstances if the computer is renamed. For more information, see Q240941.
  
  
• Configure the Microsoft Transaction Server system package with a Windows NT user account with administrator privileges. Do not leave the system package set to the interactive user. This can cause problems when the system package is needed to perform specific tasks and no one is logged in to the console. Q207510.
  
  
• Review the MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Components) 2.1 manifest.
  
  
• Review the Windows NT 4.0 SP4 bug fix list. Q224793.
  
  
• Review the Windows NT 4.0 SP5 bug fix list. Q225037.

IIS 4.0 Installation Steps

1. Install Windows NT 4.0.
   
   
2. Install Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 (SP3).
   Windows NT 4.0 SP3 is required.
   
   
3. Install Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 2 (SP2) (without Active Desktop).
   Note: Internet Explorer 4.01 SP1 is included with the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack; however, it is recommended that you install Internet Explorer 4.01 SP2. There is no need to install Internet Explorer 5.0 on a computer running IIS 4.0 at this time.
   
   
4. Install Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack.
   Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack includes IIS 4.0.
   
   
5. Re-apply the latest Windows NT 4.0 service pack.
   Even if you install the latest Windows NT 4.0 service pack in step 2, you need to re-apply the latest service pack because the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack Setup program overwrites DLL files installed by the service pack.
   
   
6. Install MDAC 2.1 SP2.

Post-Installation Suggestions

• Back up the IIS metabase often. If you are unfamiliar with the metabase, review the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: Q240941.
  
  
• Install the FrontPage 2000 Server Extensions. The FrontPage Server Extensions extend the functionality available to FrontPage-based Web sites with multi-user and remote authoring support, search, and forms capabilities.
  
  
• Review Q235461 for tips on enhancing performance in Internet Information Server 4.0.
  
  
• Read more about Web Server performance optimization.
  
  
• Install the Updated Windows Scripting Components.
  
  
• If you are accessing a Microsoft Access database from ASP or IDC code, follow the workaround described in Q164535.

Security Information and Considerations

• Review the Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0: Security Checklist.
  
  
• Review the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q229694: How to Use the IIS Security "What If" Tool.
  
  
• Review the Secure Encrypted Communication document for information on Secure Sockets Layer, Microsoft Certificate Server, and Client Certificates.
  
  
• For more information on how security works on IIS 4.0, view the following Windows Media presentations:
  
  
  • http://www.microsoft.com/NTServer/security/deployment/training/seminars.asp
  • http://www.microsoft.com/Seminar/1033/IISSecurity/Seminar.htm

Troubleshooting and Stress Testing

• The following tools are available to help you isolate problems and stress test your environment.
  
  
  • Exception Monitor
    Exception Monitor is a utility used for troubleshooting advanced IIS issues (for example, Access Violation errors, services that stop responding, and 100% CPU usage). Q160360.
    
    
  • Microsoft Web Application Stress Tool
    Microsoft Web Application Stress is a simulation tool that is designed to realistically reproduce multiple browsers requesting pages from a Web application. It was developed by Web testers and is easy to use. Microsoft recommends that you use this tool to gather performance data on your Web site. Q231282.