Setting up the IIS Services

The Internet Information Server(IIS) has several useful services :

• The IIS File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Server, is useful when needing a file server.
  HOW TO: Set Up an FTP Server in Windows 2000 (MS KB300662)
  Information About the IIS File Transmission Protocol (FTP) Service (MS KB283679)
  
• The IIS Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) Server, is useful when needing a news server.
  HOW TO: Set Up and Configure an NNTP Virtual Server in Windows 2000 (MS KB308162)
  
• The IIS Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP) Server, is useful if wanting a web server to host your homepage.
  HOW TO: Configure Windows 2000 as a Web Server (MS KB308192)
  HOW TO: Troubleshoot the Web Server in Windows 2000 (MS KB297954)
  HOW TO: Troubleshoot ASP in IIS 5.0 in Windows 2000 (MS KB309051)
  HOW TO: Optimize Web Server Performance in Windows 2000 (MS KB308186)
  HOW TO: Enable IIS Logging Site Activity in Windows 2000 (MS KB300390)
  HOW TO: Enable SSL for your web site in IIS (MS KB298805)
  HOW TO: Create a New Virtual Web Site with Its Own IP Address in IIS (MS KB300991)
  HOW TO: Create a Virtual Folder (Subweb) in IIS 4.0 or IIS 5.0 (MS KB301392)
  
• The IIS Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Server, is useful when needing a mail server.
  HOW TO: Set Up and Configure an SMTP Virtual Server in Windows 2000 (MS KB308161)
  
• The configuration of ISS can take time, so it is a good idea to save the configuration when done:
  HOW TO: Create a Metabase Backup in IIS 5 (MS KB300672)
  HOW TO: Use Windows Backup and Recovery Tools to Make a Data Backup of IIS (MS KB301420)
  HOW TO: Back Up and Restore IIS 5.0 in Windows 2000 (MS KB302573)
  

Note IIS in Pro version is by default configured to handle 10 concurrent people browsing. It is possible to increase this limit to 20 (Each client requires 2 connections):

1. Open a command prompt in this folder:

   c:\inetpub\adminscripts

2. Execute this command (Max value for Srv. is 2000000000):

   cscript adsutil.vbs set w3svc/MaxConnections 40

Note IIS keeps the connection open for 5 min, by lowering the timeout it will close the connections quicker, thus giving room for new connections:

1. Open a command prompt in this folder:

   c:\inetpub\adminscripts

2. Execute this command:
   • To lower timeout:

     cscript adsutil.vbs set w3svc/ConnectionTimeout 60

   • To disable timeout (Closes connection right after request):

     cscript adsutil.vbs set w3svc/AllowKeepAlive 0

Related IIS Lockdown