Minimum Server Configuration

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It is beyond the scope of this guide to discuss complete configuration of a Windows web server. However, the following list gives a recommended minimum of what is required in the web server. (Note that different versions of Windows use slightly different names for certain configuration options. However, you should still be able to tell which options MainBoss requires.)

• Required server roles (specified by using the Add Roles wizard during initial Windows configuration or through the functions of Manage Computer):

• Web Server (IIS)
• Application Server

• For the role services of Application Server, select Web Server (IIS) Support (and all the required services).
• Under Application Development Features, you need both ASP.NET 3.5 and 4.5, plus .NET Extensibility 4.6.

• Windows 8 gives you the choice of selecting either ASP.NET 3.5 or 4.5; you should select both. (Microsoft Report Viewer requires version 3.5; MainBoss requires 4.6.)
• Older versions of Windows don't give you a choice; for example, they only specify ASP.NET and .NET Extensibility (without versions). In this case, you automatically get both of the versions you need.

• For the role services of Web Server (IIS), select all the defaults dictated by the previous settings. This includes the following:

  Common HTTP Features:
        Static Content
        Default Document
        Directory Browsing
        HTTP Errors
        HTTP Redirection
  Application Development Features
        ISAPI Extensions
        ISAPI Filters
        .NET Extensibility 4.? (see below)
        ASP.NET 4.? (see below)
  Health and Diagnostics
        HTTP Logging
        Logging Tools
        Request Monitor
        Tracing
  Security
        Basic Authentication
        Windows Authentication
        Digest Authentication
        Client Certificate Mapping Authentication
        IIS Client Certificate Mapping Authentication
        URL Authorization
        Request Filtering
        IP and Domain Restrictions
  Performance
        Static Content Compression
        Dynamic Content compression
  Management Tools
        IIS Management Console
        IIS Management Scripts and Tools
        Management Service

Note that the .NET Extensibility and ASP.NET options may or may not be present in the list of possible Windows features—it depends on your Windows configuration. Also, the number associated with these options may be 4.5, 4.6 or 4.7. If the options aren't present, their absence won't affect you; however, if the options are present, they should be turned on.

Also note that with IIS 7.5 running on Windows Server 2008 R2, some of the above are not selected by default. In particular, "HTTP Errors" and "HTTP Redirection" are not selected by default. Therefore, you must activate them manually.

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