Host your own website using IIS7.5

Host your own website using IIS7.5


Windows 7 comes with a very handy application/tool set called Internet Information Services 7.5 which allows you to use any PC (Home or on a Network) as a server for your newly created website
Note

You will need to register a DNS Host from here for free, purchasing a Domain is Optional
You will also need your IPv4 address, run command prompt (type cmd into the Start Menu) and type ipconfig, scroll up slightly & take note of your IPv4 address. This will be used to configure your router.


Special thanks goes to z3r010 for the majority of this information

Here's How:

Part 1: Acquiring the DNS Host



Go to No-IP - Dynamic DNS, Static DNS for Your Dynamic IP


Just enter the name of your website and choose a prefix then click 'Create Host' (highlighted in image)

Note
That is all the info you need to enter to create your DNS Host. It is also recommended that you download their NO-IP software too, as this will manage/sync your host.

Part 2: Installing & Using IIS7.5

1, Access 'Control Panel, and click 'Programs' followed by 'Turn Windows features on or off'.


2, Click the checkbox for each of the Internet Information Service toolsets then click 'OK'

Note: A system restart may be required


3, Run the IIS Manager - in the Start Menu type "IIS"


4,

Right-Click on 'Sites' and click 'Add Web Site'

Note: You may need to 'Expand' the explorer branch to allow you to see 'Sites'



5, Enter a 'Site Name', this can be anything (E.g. My New Site), 'Phisical Path' (E.g. C:\MY_SITE) and 'HOST Address', this is the address of the HOST you created in step 1 (e.g. my-new-site.no-ip.org) and click OK


Step 3: Router/Windows Firewall exception
1, In the Start Menu, type "firewall" and click 'Windows Firewall with Advanced Settings'



2, Click 'Inbound Rules' then 'New Rule' to start the 'New Rule Wizard. Click 'Port' then 'Next'



Click 'TCP' and enter port '80' then click 'Next'



Click 'Allow the connection' then click 'Next'



Click the rules that apply, then 'Next'



Lastly, name the new fule & click 'Finish



You will see that the new rule has now been created and you can close Windows firewall



Note
You will need to consult your router documentation for details on how to allow firewall exceptions


The 2 exceptions you will need to configure are
'Outbound service' - Always allow HTTP(TCP:80)
'Inbound Service' - Always allow HTTP(TCP:80) and 'Send to lan server' within that (enter your IPv4 address)

Now when you type the HOST address, e.g.no-ip.orgyou, and others, will be able to access your site.

If you want to add php support etc then the quickest way is to use the Web platform installer:- Download the Microsoft Web Platform

An alternative to using IIS is to use the freely available XAMPP package (Apache webserver, MySQL database and PHP for XP). This will give you a setup which is compatible with most commercial webservers which tend to run on linux.

Generally though, running a website on your home PC, other than as an experiment, isn't particularly satisfactory and may even be against the t&c's of your service provider. Usually, its far simpler to purchase one of the myriad Cpanel hosting accounts that can be had for silly mone these days (i've seen them as low as 49p per month) which will give you a proper static IP and access to other services like DNS etc.

btw, if you want a domain name for free, I recommend https://www.co.cc
The names you can have can be quite limited but its free and works well enough. Its usually easier than remembering IP addresses. If you actually want a real domain name .co.uk ones are available from many places for around £7 for 2 years.

thanks for the heads up nozzer

Nice post ive made it a sticky

Thanks alot. Have to try

There is also another alternative to IIS locally, you can use WAMP or WampServer, it's very similar to XAMPP, I've been using it to test local Wordpress and PHP landing pages also.

I would like to second using WAMP or XAMPP which gives the ability to create websites, host, and manage databases.