How to install Internet Information Services (IIS) 7 on Windows Vista Home Premium

• March 21, 2008
• James Skemp
• Internet, software, tutorials / guides

While limited, Windows Vista Home Premium allows Internet Information Services (IIS) 7 to be installed with little fuss, using the Control Panel interface.

First, select Start > Control Panel.

Next click on the Programs item, followed by Turn Windows features on or off.

A Windows Features window will come up, which will allow you to change the status of certain applications. Included amongst these is an Internet Information Services item, which contains a number of sub-items.

Microsoft recommends you select this item, Internet Information Services, to install IIS. This is the default installation, and contains a minimum set of features. A full listing of items is below.

• ...
• Internet Information Services
  • Web Management Tools
    • IIS 6 Management Compatibility
      • IIS 6 Management Console
      • IIS 6 Scripting Tools
      • IIS 6 WMI Compatibility
      • IIS Metabase and IIS 6 configuration compatiblity
    • IIS Management Console
    • IIS Management Scripts and Tools
    • IIS Management Service
  • World Wide Web Services
    • Application Development Features
      • .NET Extensibility
      • ASP
      • ASP.NET
      • CGI
      • ISAPI Extensions
      • ISAPI Filters
      • Server-Side Includes
    • Common Http Features
      • Default Document
      • Directory Browsing
      • HTTP Errors
      • HTTP Redirection
      • Static Content
    • Health and Diagnostics
      • Custom Logging
      • HTTP Logging
      • Logging Tools
      • Request Monitor
      • Tracing
    • Performance Features
      • Http Compression Dynamic
      • Static Content Compression
    • Security
      • Basic Authentication
      • IP Security
      • Request Filtering
      • URL Authorization
• ...

When you select the Internet Information Services item, the following items are automatically selected.

• Internet Information Services
  • Web Management Tools
    • IIS Management Console
  • World Wide Web Services
    • Application Development Features
    • Common Http Features
      • Default Document
      • Directory Browsing
      • HTTP Errors
      • Static Content
    • Health and Diagnostics
      • HTTP Logging
      • Request Monitor
    • Performance Features
      • Static Content Compression
    • Security
      • Request Filtering

By default, then, you've got the ability to manage the server through the IIS Management Console. You can also serve, and compress, static content.

If you apply these additions, you'll be able to browse to http://localhost/ immediately after installation. A w3wp.exe process should also display in Windows Task Manager, running under the NETWORK SERVICE user name, and with the description of IIS Worker Process.

If you don't already have it, you'll probably want to add the System administrative tools item to your All Programs/Start menu(s). You can do this by right-clicking on an empty spot in the Start menu, selecting Properties, then Start Menu > Customize... Near the bottom of the list you'll have an option for System administrative tools, which you can display in a number of places.

Once this has been added you'll find an IIS Manager option under Administrative Tools.

If you're used to older versions of IIS, like IIS 6, it may take a bit to get used to the new interface. But, it's sure to be a rewarding experience.

Comments/corrections/etcetera greatly appreciated.

• microsoft
• vista
• iis