How to Install IIS Web Server on VM (Windows Server)

How to Install IIS Web Server on VM

IIS stands for Internet Information Services. It is a web server from Microsoft. IIS is used to host websites and web applications on a Windows Server. In this guide, we will install IIS on VM using Server Manager.

Step 1: Open Server Manager

First, log in to the VM server with an administrator account.
Open Server Manager from the Start menu. Server Manager is used to manage the Windows Server and install different server roles and features.

Step 2: Add Roles and Features

In Server Manager, click Manage at the top.
Select Add Roles and Features from the menu.

The Add Roles and Features Wizard will open. Click Next to continue.

Step 3: Select Installation Type

On the Installation Type page, keep the default option Role-based or feature-based installation selected.
This option allows us to install a server role such as IIS.
Click Next.

Step 4: Select the Server

On the Server Selection page, select VM Server from the server list.

Step 5: Select Web Server (IIS)

On the Server Roles page, find Web Server (IIS).
Select the checkbox next to Web Server (IIS).
A small popup window will appear. This window shows the features needed for IIS.
Click Add Features.
Then click Next.

Keep default and Click Next to continue.

Click Next to continue.

Make sure all required Role service selected
Then Click Next to continue.

Step 6: Continue with the Installation

The wizard will show the Features and IIS configuration pages.

For a basic IIS installation, we can keep the default settings.

Click Next through the remaining pages until you reach the Confirmation page.

Step 7: Install IIS

On the Confirmation page, check the selected options.
Make sure Web Server (IIS) is selected.
Click Install to start the installation.
Wait for the installation to finish. The installation may take a few minutes.
When the installation is complete, click Close.

Step 8: Check IIS

After installing IIS, we can check if it is working correctly.

Open a web browser on VM Server

Enter the following address:

http://localhost

Press Enter.

If IIS is installed correctly, the IIS Welcome page will appear. This means the IIS web server is running successfully.

Step 9: Open IIS Manager

We can use IIS Manager to manage the web server.
Open Server Manager.
Click Tools.
Select Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
IIS Manager will open.
From IIS Manager, you can create and manage websites and web applications.

Conclusion

IIS Web Server is now installed on VM The server can now be used to host websites and web applications. We can use IIS Manager to configure and manage the websites.

The next useful step is to create a simple test website in IIS and check that it can be opened in a web browser.