Hosting a website is essential for making it available to visitors worldwide. IIS (Internet Information Services) is a robust and feature-rich web server built by Microsoft. 

6 Steps to Host a Website on IIS

Read on to discover how to configure and deploy a web application on IIS so that your website may be hosted successfully.

1. Install IIS (Internet Information Services)

For installing IIS on your Windows, follow the instruction mentioned below

• Launch the Control Panel
• Navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.” 
• Select “Turn Windows features on or off.” 
• Locate ” IIS or Internet Information Services” 
• Check the box next to IIS and click “OK” to initiate installation. 

2. Prepare Your Website Files

Before hosting your website:

• Ascertain that all of the relevant website files are organized and ready for deployment. 
• Create a folder on your PC precisely for these files. It will serve as the website’s root directory.
• Arrange all necessary files in this folder. It includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, pictures, and other materials. 
• Include an index file that will be the default page for your website.

3. Configure IIS

Now it’s time to configure IIS to host your website:

• Launch the Internet Information Services (IIS), Manager, searching for “IIS” in the Windows Start menu. 
• Once opened, expand the server name in the Connections pane. To begin the configuration, right-click on “Sites”. Select “Add Website.” 
• Provide a name for your website. 
• Browse and choose the folder you established in the previous step to specify the physical path to your website folder.
• Define the IP address, port, and hostname bindings for your website. If you’re unsure, leave them as the default values. These bindings determine how users will access your website. 
• Once you’ve set up the necessary bindings, click “OK” to create your website within IIS.

4. Test your Website

Now that your website is hosted on IIS, it is time to test to check that everything works properly. 

• Launch a web browser 
• Enter the URL of your website
•  If you see your website’s homepage displayed, congratulations! Your website is successfully hosted on IIS.

5. Set up DNS (optional)

You must establish DNS settings to make your website accessible via a domain name.

• Register a domain name and point it to the server’s IP address where IIS runs. 
• In the IIS Manager, right-click on your website and select “Edit Bindings.” Add a binding for your domain name
• Save the changes 
• Allow time for DNS propagation, which can take several hours to propagate across the internet.

6. Deploy your web application.

In the case of a web application, additional deployment steps might be necessary. Different frameworks and technologies have their specific requirements for deployment. Consult your web application framework’s documentation or specific deployment instructions to ensure a smooth and successful deployment process. Pay attention to configuration settings, database connections, or additional software dependencies that must be considered during the deployment.

Bottom Line

IIS hosting offers a stable and dependable infrastructure for delivering information to consumers. You may set up IIS, deploy your website files, adjust appropriate settings, and even deploy web apps by following these instructions. If your website handles sensitive data, consider security measures such as SSL certificates to guarantee safe communications.