How Do I Know If IIS is Installed?

IIS (Internet Information Services) is a web server that runs on Windows and allows you to build websites, host applications, and manage the files that make up those sites. It also provides a number of additional features that are not found in other servers, such as support for dynamically-generated content and secure access via SSL or HTTPS. IIS is also a great choice for developers, as it supports rapid deployment of web applications using a standardized process. It’s easy to get started with IIS, and it can be configured to match the needs of any application or website.

IIS is available as an optional feature on the latest versions of Windows Server, starting with 2021 and including Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2008. In addition, IIS is included in the core operating system starting with the release of Windows 10 and continuing with the release of each new version.

The easiest way to find out if IIS is installed is by using the Control Panel. In the Search box, type “IIS” and then select Internet Information Services Manager. You can also use an elevated command prompt and perform a reg query to see if the IIS Management Console has been installed on your machine.

Another method to check if IIS is installed is by opening the Administrative Tools in the Control Panel. Once you have done this, go to the Windows System folder and expand it by clicking on the plus sign. From there, click the Internet Information Services Manager option to open it.

Once IIS is installed, you can manage it through the GUI or PowerShell. The PowerShell method is more flexible, as you can script everything and then run it whenever you want to manage IIS. However, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the GUI before moving on, as it will be easier to understand how things work once you’ve done so.

You can enable IIS by using the Windows Server PowerShell ISE. Enter the cmdlet Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName IIS-WebServerRole -NoRestart and press OK. After that, you can go to Programs and Features in the Control Panel to verify that the IIS feature has been enabled. If it has, you can also see the Web Server Role installed on the machine. You can also verify that IIS is installed by running the “reg query HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftInetStp” command in an elevated Command Prompt window. This will show the IIS installation version number in the output. Alternatively, you can install IIS from the Add Role Services and Features window in Server Manager. This will install all the required components for IIS automatically. You can also install IIS on a per-machine basis using the Windows Installer. This method is less invasive and can be used on any Windows Server OS or desktop. It is recommended that you test IIS on a virtual machine before installing it on your production servers. This will help you avoid potential issues and downtime.