IIS Answers -Upgrading to IIS 5

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IISAnswers Articles

Upgrading to IIS 5
by Brett Hill

TOC

1. Overview
2. But First!
3. FAQ About installing IIS 5
4. Changing the Install location after IIS 5 is installed.
5 Hardware Requirements

OVERVIEW

Upgrading to IIS 5 can be either a great dream or, how should I say, a not so great dream. There is no clear cut path to the greener pastures of increased stability, better performance, and new features all being showcased as part of the compelling argument to upgrade.

In truth, the argument is compelling. Just idea leaving behind the patchwork it takes to get an NT 4 system up to date is almost reason enough. It's sooooo tempting to just draw a new baseline and say "start here".

In fact, as it turns out - if you can do that, do it. If your NT 4 IIS installation is straight ahead with few embellishments, I would recommend you simply install W2K server, manually recreate the web structure and transfer the content by tape, CD, network, incantation, or any other way you can.

BUT FIRST!

You need to take pause and consider the project at hand. The fast way is to just get everything over to the new server asap. Deadlines are met, everyone is happy, however, your total cost of ownership is not a good as it could be. True, that If you simply move your security, file structure, or other administrative problems from one server to another you will at least benefit from a more stable and faster IIS 5.0 and that's all good. But if you're having problems due to your original layout of web sites (are they all appearing under the default website?), permissions structure, or other architectural issues, then perhaps you may want to consider taking this opportunity to re-map, re-think, and re-design your IIS server setup.

Low and behold, Chapter 2 and 3 in the IIS 5.0 Resource Guide (which is one of the books of the W2K Resource Kit), which, by the way, is not really optional in my opinion. In fact, a major tool - the IIS 5 Migration Tool, is part of that kit and you are going to want it. Really.

MS has a Technet three part article on the topic of migration at http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/iis/ready.asp. These articles are long on suggestions and short of practical advice, but can help you think it through. FYI, they are almost verbatim the same content in the IIS 5 Resource Guide on this topic.