How to Install and Configure IIS on Windows Server – Step by Step

Step 1: Install IIS Role

1. Open Server Manager → Click Add Roles and Features.
2. Choose Role-based or feature-based installation → Click Next.
3. Select your server → Click Next.
4. Under Server Roles, check Web Server (IIS).
• A popup appears → Click Add Features → Then Next.
5. Keep default features or add optional ones → Click Next.
6. On the Web Server Role (IIS) screen → Click Next → Install.
7. Wait for the installation to complete → Click Close.

Step 2: Verify IIS Installation

1. Open your browser → Type http://localhost.
2. You should see the IIS Welcome Page.

Step 3: Create a Website in IIS

1. Open Server Manager → Click Tools → Select IIS Manager.
2. In IIS Manager → Expand your server → Right-click Sites → Click Add Website.

Enter Website Details:

• Site name: (e.g., MySite)
• Physical path: Browse to your website folder (e.g., C:\inetpub\wwwroot\mysite)
• Binding:
• Type: http
• IP address: All Unassigned or choose server IP
• Port: 80 (default)
• Host name: (optional, e.g., mysite.local)
• Click OK.

Step 4: Test the Website

1. Open browser → Type your server IP or hostname:

http://your-server-ip

2.Your custom site should now load.

Optional: Enable Firewall Rules for IIS

1. Open Windows Defender Firewall → Click Allow an app through firewall.
2. Ensure World Wide Web Services (HTTP) and HTTPS are allowed.

Enabling the IIS web server in Windows

The IIS web server must be enabled on the primary and secondary machines in order for FileMaker Server to operate.

If the FileMaker Server installer detects that IIS is not enabled, it will enable IIS. The FileMaker Server installer also installs the Microsoft Application Request Routing (ARR) extension for IIS if it is not present. However, if you need to enable IIS manually, follow the steps below for the supported version of Windows you're using.

For information about IIS, see the Microsoft website.

To enable IIS in Windows versions with the Start menu:

1. Click the Startmenu > Administrative Tools > Server Manager.
2. Click Add Roles.
3. In the Add Roles wizard, select Web Server (IIS), then click Next.
4. Choose the IIS role services to install. Click Nextto accept the defaults.
5. Add any role services as required.

To enable IIS in Windows versions with the Windows Start screen:

1. On the Windows Startscreen, choose Server Manager.
2. Click Managemenu > Add Roles and Features.
3. Select Role-based or feature-based installation, then click Next.
4. Select the server, then click Next.
5. Choose Web Server (IIS), then click Next.
6. Choose any additional features, if necessary, then click Next.
7. Click Next.
8. Choose the IIS role services to install. Click Nextto accept the defaults.
9. Confirm your selections, then click Install.

Notes 

• To verify the web server is running, enter the following in a web browser on the web server host machine:

http://127.0.0.1

• Ensure that no existing websites use port 80 or 443. These ports are used by FileMaker Server. If the FileMaker Server installer detects an existing website using these ports, the installer prompts you to let it disable that website. The installer creates its own website and configures it to use port 80 for HTTP and port 443 for HTTPS on primary and secondary machines.