Configuring Step 1: Install IIS Web Farm Infrastructure

Article
04/11/2024

The first step in installing and configuring an IIS 8 web farm is to install IIS on the web servers and load balancing server. Then install Application Request Routing (ARR) on the load balancing server. Finally, set up your website on one of the web servers. The goal of this step is to get the software you need installed on your servers. You configure your web farm later in the process.

When you are done with these tasks, record your design decisions before going on to Step 2: Configure IIS Web Farm Servers.

1.1. Install IIS with Appropriate Modules

Install IIS on all servers in your web farm except your back-end file servers (content server and certificate store server). The ARR server requires only a default install of IIS with Centralized SLL Certificate Support. All of the web servers require you to install IIS and all IIS modules that support the types of web applications you intend to run.

To install IIS on an ARR server

On the Start page, click the Server Manager tile, and then click OK.
In Server Manager, select Dashboard, and click Add roles and features.
In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, on the Before You Begin page, click Next.
On the Select Installation Type page, select Role-based or Feature-based Installation and click Next
On the Select Destination Server page, select Select a server from the server pool, select the name of your computer, and click Next.
On the Select Server Roles page, select Web Server (IIS), and then click Next.
On the Select Features page, notice the preselected features, and then click Next.
On the Web Server Role (IIS) page, click Next.
On the Select Features page, note the preselected features that are installed by default, and then select Centralized SSL Certificate Support under the Security node.
Click Next.
On the Confirm Installation Selections page, confirm your selections, and then click Install.
On the Installation Progress page, confirm that your installation of the Web Server (IIS) role and required role services completed successfully, and then click Close.
To verify that IIS installed successfully, enter the following into a web browser:

http://localhost

You see the default IIS Welcome page.

To install IIS and IIS modules on web servers

On the Start page, click the Server Manager tile, and then click OK.
In Server Manager, select Dashboard, and click Add roles and features.
In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, on the Before You Begin page, click Next.
On the Select Installation Type page, select Role-based or Feature-based Installation and click Next
On the Select Destination Server page, select Select a server from the server pool, select your server, and click Next.
On the Select Server Roles page, select Web Server (IIS), and then click Next.
On the Select Features page, note the preselected features that are installed by default, and then select additional role services for the type of web applications you plan to support. (Caution: Install only the role services your websites require. This practice increases your website security.)
Click Next.
On the Web Server Role (IIS) page, click Next.
On the Select Role Services page, note the preselected role services that are installed by default, and then click Next.

Note

You only have to install the IIS 8 default role services for a static-content web server.
On the Confirm Installation Selections page, confirm your selections, and then click Install.
On the Installation Progress page, confirm that your installation of the Web Server (IIS) role and required role services completed successfully, and then click Close.
To verify that IIS installed successfully, type the following into a web browser:

http://localhost

You should see the default IIS Welcome page.

1.2 Install ARR for Load Balancing

Once you have a default installation of IIS on a server, you can install the current version of Application Request Routing (ARR).

To install ARR load balancing and its dependencies

Open a browser to the Application Request Routing website.
Locate the MSI packages for the current version of ARR and download them to your server.
Run the MSI package to install ARR and its dependencies.

1.3 Set up Your Website on One Web Server

Before you proceed to the next step, set up and test your web application on one of your web servers. This will make configuring shared configuration and shared content much easier.

If you need help configuring your website on your web server, refer to one of the following IIS scenarios:

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