Web Servers

A Web server is a computer equipped with the server software that uses Internet protocols such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to respond to Web client requests on a TCP/IP network.

The following are general requirements for setting up Windows 2000 Web-based member servers:

• Read the HCL to ensure hardware compatibility.
• Determine what new or additional components will go on the Web server.
• Back up data in case problems occur during the upgrade or installation.
• Test Web-based member servers after upgrading to Windows 2000 Server.

Internet Information Services (IIS) is the Web service integrated with Windows 2000 Server. You can use IIS to set up a Web or FTP site on your corporate intranet, create sites for the Internet, or develop component-based applications.

Windows 2000 Server includes the Internet Services Manager Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. This snap-in is a powerful site administration tool that provides access to all of your server settings. If you use IIS, you will use this snap-in to manage complex sites on your corporate intranet, or publish information on the Internet.

It is recommended that you test your Web servers after upgrading to Windows 2000 Server. To verify connectivity from a Windows 2000 member server to other Web sites, perform the following test:

• From the server, open the Internet Services Manager MMC snap-in and verify that all Web sites (in existence before the upgrade) were successfully upgraded to the Web service on the Windows 2000 member server. Verify that the service is running.
• From a client, open a Web browser and verify connectivity to Web sites on the Windows 2000 member server.

For more information about IIS, see the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit Internet Information Services Resource Guide.

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