Process for Upgrading an IIS Server to IIS 6.0

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

The process for upgrading an existing IIS server hosting IIS Web sites and applications includes preparing for the upgrade, as well as performing the upgrade. Upon completing the upgrade process outlined in this section, you can then configure IIS 6.0 to run your applications in worker process isolation mode. Lastly, if the newly upgraded IIS 6.0 server hosts existing ASP.NET applications, you must configure IIS to use the proper version of the Microsoft .NET Framework for these applications.

Note

You can use the Web Platform Installer (Web PI) to easily install IIS, and applications that run on IIS. The Web PI is a free, lightweight tool that lets you install IIS and related technologies such as ASP.NET, SQL Server Express, Visual Web Developer, other popular Web applications, and more. Because the Web PI installs the latest versions of available Web Platform offerings, with just a few simple clicks you can download and install any new tools or updates. To learn more about the Web PI, see Learn more and install the Web PI.

Figure 5.1 illustrates the process for upgrading an existing IIS server hosting Web sites and applications to IIS 6.0.

Figure 5.1   Upgrading an Existing IIS Server to IIS 6.0

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In addition to upgrading the existing operating system and IIS, the upgrade process automatically upgrades any components that are a part Windows Server 2003, such as FrontPage® Server Extensions from Microsoft. As a part of the upgrade process, you need to evaluate the compatibility of the software that is installed on your existing server, including device drivers, other Windows components, and software, before performing the upgrade of the server.

Note

To upgrade a Web farm, use the process described in this section to upgrade each server in the Web farm.

Depending on your familiarity with IIS and its upgrade process, you might require less information to complete the upgrade process. To facilitate the fastest possible upgrade, the following quick-start guide is provided. You can use this guide to help identify the steps of the upgrade process that you need additional information to complete, and then you can skip the information with which you are already familiar. In addition, all of the procedures that are required to complete the upgrade process are documented in the IIS 6.0 Operations Guide.

Prepare to Upgrade

  1. Determine compatibility with Windows Server 2003.

  2. Identify and compensate for changes to IIS 6.0:

    • Ensure that the World Wide Web Publishing Service (WWW service) is enabled after upgrade.

    • Compensate for changes to IIS components.

  3. Determine application compatibility with worker process isolation mode by completing the following steps:

    • Evaluate the benefits of worker process isolation mode.

    • Evaluate application changes required for worker process isolation mode.

    • Evaluate management and provisioning script changes required for worker process isolation mode.

    • Verify application compatibility with worker process isolation mode in a lab.

  4. Determine application compatibility with the .NET Framework.

Perform the Upgrade

  1. Back up the Web server before upgrade.

  2. Verify that clients are not accessing Web sites.

  3. Prevent the WWW service from being disabled.

  4. Upgrade the Web server to IIS 6.0.

  5. Verify that the operating system upgrade was successful.

  6. Back up the IIS 6.0 metabase after upgrade.

Convert to Worker Process Isolation Mode

  1. Document the current application isolation settings.

  2. Configure IIS to run in worker process isolation mode.

  3. Configure application isolation settings in IIS 6.0.

Configure IIS 6.0 Properties

  1. Enable the WWW service.

  2. Configure Web service extensions.

  3. Configure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) types.

  4. Modify references to IIS 6.0 metabase properties that have changed or are no longer supported.

  5. Upgrade FrontPage extended Web sites.

  6. Determine whether to run the IIS Lockdown Tool and UrlScan.

  7. Make the following security-related configuration changes:

    • Enable essential IIS components and services.

    • Remove any unnecessary IIS virtual directories.

    • Configure the anonymous user identity.

Configure IIS to Host ASP.NET Applications

  1. Configure IIS to use the correct version of the .NET Framework.

  2. Configure the .NET Framework.

  3. Review how ASP.NET applications run in each application isolation mode.

  4. Migrate Machine.config attributes to IIS 6.0 metabase property settings by completing the following steps:

    • Migrate recycling-related attributes.

    • Migrate performance-related attributes.

    • Migrate health-related attributes.

    • Migrate identity-related attributes.

Complete the Upgrade

  1. Verify that the Web sites and applications run properly.

  2. Back up the Web server.

  3. Enable client access after upgrade is complete.