This Knowledge Base (KB) article provides detailed instructions on how to setup and configure a website in Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

This article has a video guide available.

 Coming Soon!

Opening the IIS Manager

There are several methods to open IIS Manager. Expand the method that you prefer to use and follow the steps below:

1. Click the Start menu, then type IIS Manager.

2. Click the option that appears for Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

(Optional) You can also right-click and choose the option to Pin to Start menu or taskbar for easier access in the future.

1. Open a Command Prompt on the server.

2. Type start inetmgr and then click Enter.

1. Click the Start menu, then type Run.

2. Click the option that appears for the Run desktop app.

3. In the dialog type inetmgr and click Enter or press OK.

Creating a website

1. Open the IIS Manager.

2. Expand the server node and click Sites.

3. In the right-side actions pane, click Add Website....

4. For the site name, enter the domain you wish to create the site for, such as example.com.

  • An application pool will be created for your domain automatically with your site name. You can override this by choosing Select... but this is optional and usually not needed.

5. For the binding configuration, choose the following options:

  • Type: HTTP
  • IP address: Keep as All Unassigned unless necessary.
  • Port: 80
  • Host name: Use the same domain as you used in the site name.

6. Keep the checkbox for Start Website immediately selected.

7. Click OK. Your new website should be created.

8. Your site should now show in the list of sites. Select the site in question, then click Bindings... in the right-side actions pane.

9. Click the Add... button and then enter the additional hostname you want to add, such as the "www" version of the site, then click OK.

10. Repeat step 9 for any additional hostnames you want configured for this IIS website, then click Close.

Adjusting a website application pool

Follow the steps below to make changes to your website's application pool. Please note it is not recommended to make changes if you are unfamiliar with the setting you are adjusting.

1. Open the IIS Manager.

2. Expand the server node and click Application Pools.

3. Find the application pool you want to modify. If needed, use the Filter search box to find your desired application pool.

4. Select the application pool, then in the right-side actions pane click the Advanced Settings... button.

5. Here, you can change settings like the .NET version used for app pool, ASP.NET pipeline mode, start mode, CPU and memory allocation, identity (the user the application pool runs under) and much more. Make any desired changes to the application pool.

6. If you want to apply any changes made, then click OK.

Troubleshooting an IIS error page

Detailed IIS errors are disabled by default. If you're not troubleshooting, we recommend leaving these off. Follow the steps below to disable/enable detailed errors:

1. Open the IIS Manager.

2. Expand the server node and click Sites.

  • If you want detailed errors enabled on server level instead of site level then just click the server node and skip to step 4.

3. Find the website in question and select it.

4. Click on the option labeled Error Pages under the IIS section.

5. A list of the different types of IIS error codes are listed. Click on Edit Feature Settings... in the right-side actions pane.

  • If you want to change the setting for only a specific error code, first select the status code you want to change.

6. Select the option that you desire:

  • For detailed errors select Detailed errors
  • For disabling detailed errors select Detailed errors for local requests and custom error pages for remote requests

7. Click OK. If you enabled detailed errors, refresh the page you received an IIS error for and you should now see more detailed information about the error you encountered.

Need Further Assistance?

We've got your back! Create a Support ticket in your account portal.