An application server is a core technology that provides key infrastructure and services to applications hosted on a system. Typical application servers include the following services:
The
This topic explains the basic steps that you must follow to configure an application server. This process involves using the Configure Your Server Wizard to configure the server as an application server. When you have finished setting up a basic application server, you can complete additional tasks by using Manage Your Server.
This topic covers:
Before you configure your computer as an application server, verify that:
The following table lists the information that you need to know before you add an application server role.
| Before adding an application server role | Comments |
|---|---|
Understand the following technologies that are installed automatically while configuring your application server:
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| Determine whether you would like to install FrontPage Server Extensions. | FrontPage Server Extensions enable users on a client computer to publish and administer Web sites on a server remotely over a network. |
| Determine whether you would like to run ASP.NET applications on your server. | ASP.NET is a unified Web development platform that provides the services necessary for developers to build enterprise-class Web applications. You can enable ASP.NET for developing Web applications. |
To configure an application server, start the Configure Your Server Wizard by doing either of the following:
On the Server Role page, click Application server (IIS, ASP.NET), and then click Next.
This section covers:
Completing the Configure Your Server Wizard
Removing the application server role
On the Application Server Options page, you can choose to install the following optional components with your application server:
After you finish, click Next.
On the Summary of Selections page, you can view and confirm the options that you have selected. If you selected Application server (IIS, ASP.NET) on the Server Role page, the following appears:
If you selected FrontPage Server Extensions or ASP.NET, the following items also appear:
To apply the selections shown on the Summary of Selections page, click Next. When you click Next, the Configuring Components page of the Windows Components Wizard appears, and then closes automatically. You cannot click Back or Next on this page.
After the components are configured, the Configure Your Server Wizard displays the This Server is Now an Application Server page. To review all of the changes made to your server by the Configure Your Server Wizard or to ensure that a new role was installed successfully, click Configure Your Server log. The Configure Your Server Wizard log is located at systemroot\Debug\Configure Your Server.log. To close the Configure Your Server Wizard, click Finish.
If the installation was not successful, the Cannot Complete page appears and IIS could not be installed. To troubleshoot the installation, click Configure Your Server log.
If you need to reconfigure your server for a different role, you can remove existing server roles. By removing the application server role, you will uninstall all application server components, such as the IIS. Your server will no longer support serving Web pages, Web applications, or distributed applications.
To remove the application server role, restart the Configure Your Server Wizard by doing either of the following:
On the Server Role page, click Application server (IIS, ASP.NET), and then click Next. On the Role Removal Confirmation page, review the items listed under Summary, select the Remove the application server role check box, and then click Next. When you click Next, the Configuring Components page of the Windows Components Wizard appears, and then closes automatically. You cannot click Back or Next on this page. On the Application Server Role Removed page, click Finish.
After you complete the Configure Your Server Wizard and enable the features that you need to run your applications, the computer is ready for use as a basic application server. Up to this point, you have completed the following tasks:
The following table lists some of the additional tasks that you might want to perform on your application server.
| Task | Purpose of task | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Secure your application server. | To ensure the security of this server, it is recommended that you implement security precautions, such as firewalls and Internet Protocol security (IPSec), before placing it in a production environment. An application server may be targeted by attackers because of its exposure to the Internet and other networks. You can secure your applications by using authentication protocols, access control, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and encryption. | Internet Protocol Security (IPSec); Securing your network with Basic Firewall; Security in Microsoft Internet Information Services |
| Secure your files with NTFS. | To secure your Web site, applications, databases, and files use NTFS permissions. This is essential for a secure site. | To set, view, change, or remove permissions on files and folders |
| Configure Web Interface for Remote Administration. | To manage your application server using a Web browser on a remote computer. | Using Web Interface for Remote Administration |
| Create a Web site. | To create a Web site to host your Web applications. | Web Site Setup in Microsoft Internet Information Services |
| Create applications with the latest development tools. | To learn about the latest development tools from Microsoft that can help you develop new applications more quickly and efficiently. | Microsoft Web site |
| Create ASP.NET Web Applications. | To create ASP.NET applications. | Creating ASP.NET Web Application at the Microsoft Web site |
| Secure your ASP.NET Web applications. | To ensure the security of your ASP.NET applications | ASP.NET Web Application Security at the Microsoft Web site |