IIS 7.0 (Vista) Issues

[halox]

Hi,

I have a couple of issues with IIS 7.0 (on Vista) I was hoping someone could help me with.

1. I've specified the minimum prerequisite of 'Internet Information Services 5.1'. Unless I install the IIS option of 'Web Management Tools/IIS 6 Management Compatibility', I receive the following error during install:

"This version of IIS is not supported or IIS is not fully Installed !
You need Internet Information Services 5.0 or above."



2. I'm also trying to create a new web site on port 80 with a Host Header Name of 'localhost', and I receive the following error during install:

"A Web Site with the same Server Bindings is already started
:80:localhost"

I realise the 'Default Web Site' is configure for port 80 use, but is there any to suppress this message during install i.e. have an option for 'Error Policy' like 'Ignore item and continue installation'. Alternatively, is there a way to change the port number of the Default Web Site during install time, or delete the Default Web Site altogether?

Thanks in advance
Halox

[gigi]

Hi Halox,

1. The error message displayed during IIS configuration is due to the fact that Advanced Installer IIS tool requires some IIS components that are not installed by default on Vista (this install scenario should not happen on working IIS servers that are properly configured and up and running).

2. The message: "A Web Site with the same Server Bindings is already started :80:localhost" is an warning (does not halt the installation), informing you that a web site with the same bindings is already started on the target server and a running conflict happened (obviously, it is not possible to have more than one web site with the same binding).

If we would always suppress this warning the installing user would not be aware of such a conflict and the newly installed web site would not start serving. When such a conflict appears the server admin should rectify this program by changing the bindings of one of the two web sites in conflict. It is obvious that the AI IIS tool can not interfere with other pre-existing web sites settings, in order to accommodate the new web site requirements; this job falls in the hands of the server admin (installing user).

We shall consider adding an option for configuring if an IIS installation should be silent or verbose. In the meantime if you really need to suppress that warning message we could send you a modified version of the AI IIS dll.

Best Regards,
Gigi
______________
Gheorghe Rada
Advanced Installer Team
http://www.advancedinstaller.com

[halox]

Hi Gigi,

Thanks for responding so quickly again.

The error message "A Web Site with the same Server Bindings is already started :80:localhost" , has now gone away and I'm not sure why. I wasn't using the same bindings, as I specified a Host Header Name for my web site - strange.

For the error message ""This version of IIS is not supported or IIS is not fully Installed !", I'm guessing my customers might complain about having to install 'IIS 6 Management Compatibility', when they have no need for it on an II7 web server - the actual web server works fine without this installed.

Regards
Halox

[OTomkins]

Hi,

are there going to be any changes to the IIS requirements on Vista anytime soon?

Because our Software doesn't need the IIS 6 compatible mode.

Thanks,
Oliver

[gigi]

Hi,

Starting with version 7.0, IIS has migrated to "legacy mode" ('Web Management Tools/IIS 6 Management Compatibility') the configuration method using ADSI over IIS metabase.

Since AI IIS tool needs to be able to configure IIS servers starting with version 5.0 we need to keep this compatibility configuration mode.

In the future, we plan to offer alternative IIS configuration port that will break backwards compatibility and will manage IIS in the new fashion (over IIS WMI interfaces).

However, we consider that IIS servers up & running such as Longhorn servers (unlike developer test machines - Windows Vista) are properly configured with all necessary features enabled.

Regards,
Gigi

[OTomkins]

Hi Gigi,

we are planning on buying AI, also for our Web-Applications.

Is there any chanche that the IIS 7 configuration mode is going to come to Advanced Installer within the next 6 Months?

Thanks,
Oliver

[gigi]

Hi Oliver,

Thank you for your interest in Advanced Installer.

Here are some of the new features scheduled for IIS in the next versions of AI:

- configure IIS Application Pools
- advanced ASP support (web application ASP parameters configuration)
- support for nested virtual directories
- ability to configure custom HTTP headers
- configure some additional web site & virtual directory working parameters
- make some IIS configuration values Formatted (Windows Installer)

Regards,
Gigi

[OTomkins]

Hi Gigi,

do you know when the new Version of Advanced Installer will be coming out?

Thanks,
Oliver

[gigi]

Hi Oliver,

The next version (5.2) of Advanced Installer is scheduled for release next month, but will not contain any of the above mentioned IIS features. Those features are scheduled for implementation gradually over several future versions of AI (though out this year).

Regards,
Gigi

[Phobos]

Hi,

any news on this?

[Cosmin]

Hi,

support for nested virtual directories

This feature has been included in Advanced Installer beginning with the 5.2 version.

- configure IIS Application Pools
- advanced ASP support (web application ASP parameters configuration)
- ability to configure custom HTTP headers
- configure some additional web site & virtual directory working parameters
- make some IIS configuration values Formatted (Windows Installer)

I'm afraid that these features have not yet been implemented, but they will be available in future versions of Advanced Installer.

Regards,
Cosmin