Set up SmarterStats as an IIS Site in IIS 8

Web Help > IIS Configuration & Management
By default, SmarterStats installs a basic Web server that allows administrators to start using the application immediately after installation. However, SmarterStats recommends moving to a more robust and secure Web server, such as Microsoft IIS. Setting up SmarterStats as an IIS site is a multistep process and differs slightly depending on what version of IIS you're on. Only the instructions for IIS 8.0 are described below. 

NOTE: This topic assumes that you have IIS installed and are familiar with how it works. It is also recommended to be up to date with all software patches. If you are unfamiliar with or uncomfortable using Microsoft IIS you can use the Web server included with SmarterStats; however, the default Web server is not meant for production environments.

Applies to SmarterStats 10.x - 11.x

Disable the SmarterStats Web Server
Follow these steps to stop and disable the default Web server that is included with SmarterStats. This will also have the side-effect of disabling any shortcut for SmarterStats that may be placed on your desktop until you update it with the new URL for the SmarterStats site created in IIS.
  1. Click on Start > Programs > SmarterStats > SmarterStats > Configure SmarterStats Web Server
  2. Click on the Stop button
  3. Change the Startup Mode to Disabled
  4. Click on the Apply button
  5. Click the Close button
NOTE: You can also stop and disable the SmarterStats Web server from within the Services administrative tool if you are more comfortable using the Windows Server admin tool set.

Add IIS ISAPI Components
Follow these steps to add the necessary IIS components:
  1. Open up IIS
  2. When prompted Launch Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
  3. Click on Products tab
  4. Click on Servers
  5. Install required components of: IIS: ASP.NET, .NET Extensibility, ASP, CGI, ISAPI Extensions, ISAPI Filters
  6. Install any other options components
  7. Click Install
Add an Application Pool
Follow these steps to add an application pool specifically for SmarterStats:
  1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
  2. Right click on Application Pools from the tree view and choose Add Application Pool
  3. Name the new application pool SmarterStats, or something similarly easy to identify
  4. Set the .Net Framework Version to v4.5.x (Versions 10.x and earlier support .NET 4.0)
  5. Set the Application Pools Managed Pipeline to 'Integrated'
  6. Make sure "Start application pool immediately" is checked
  7. Click OK
Add SmarterStats to IIS
Follow these steps to add SmarterStats to IIS:
  1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
  2. Click on your ServerName, and on the right side, under IIS, double-click ISAPI and CGI Restrictions
  3. Verify that ASP.NET v4.5 is allowed (If not, right click on ASP.NET v4.5.x and select Allowed) (Versions 10.x and earlier support .NET 4.0)
  4. On the left side of the page, right click on Sites in the tree view and choose Add Website
  5. Name the site SmarterStats
  6. If you created an Application Pool name other than SmarterStats, click Select and choose the correct Application Pool
  7. For the physical path, browse to the SmarterStats -> MRS folder. The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\ SmarterTools\ SmarterStats\MRS
  8. For Binding, choose an IP address to use for Webmail. If this IP address is shared with another Web site, you will need to use a different port or Host Headers. For more information about using Host headers, refer to the IIS documentation
  9. Make sure "Start Web site immediately" is checked
  10. Click OK
Verify IIS Settings
Follow these steps to verify the IIS settings. Please read each item carefully.
  1. In IIS Manager, click on your ServerName
  2. Under IIS, double click ISAPI and CGI Restrictions
  3. Verify that ASP .NET v4.5 is allowed. If it is not, right-click on ASP .NET v4.5 and select Allowed. (Versions 10.x and earlier support .NET 4.0)
  4. In the tree view, click Sites
  5. Expand (or double click) the SmarterStats site
  6. Click on the App_Themes folder
  7. Under IIS, double click HTTP Response Headers
  8. Under the Action menus, click Set Common Headers
  9. Enable the Expire Web content setting
    • Click After
    • Add 7 for the number of days
  10. Click OK
  11. Click on Application Pools in the tree view
  12. Right click on the SmarterStats application pool and select Advanced Settings
  13. Under the Process Model heading, ensure the the Identity is set to the NetworkService account
  14. From the Start menu, open Administrative Tools and select Services, then verify that the World Wide Publishing Service is running

 

Applies to SmarterStats 6.x-9.x

Disable the SmarterStats Web Server
Follow these steps to stop and disable the default Web server that is included with SmarterStats. This will also have the side-effect of disabling any shortcut for SmarterStats that may be placed on your desktop until you update it with the new URL for the SmarterStats site created in IIS.
  1. Click on Start -> Programs -> SmarterStats -> SmarterStats -> Configure SmarterStats Web Server
  2. Click on the Stop button
  3. Change the Startup Mode to Disabled
  4. Click on the Apply button
  5. Click the Close button
NOTE: You can also stop and disable the SmarterStats Web server from within the Services administrative tool if you are more comfortable using the Windows Server admin tool set.
Add IIS 6 Management Compatibility
  1. Open ServerManager
  2. Click on Dashboard
  3. Click on Add Roles and Features
  4. Click Next and then next again
  5. Select server name and then next
  6. Expand Web Server (IIS) then expand IIS 6 Management Compatibility
  7. Enable IIS 6 Management Console
  8. Click Next and Next again
  9. Click Install
NOTE: IIS 6 Management Compatibility needs to be installed for SmarterStats to import logs from the Import From IIS feature.
Add IIS ISAPI Components
Follow these sets to add the necessary IIS components.
  1. Open up IIS
  2. When prompted Launch Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
  3. Click on Products tab
  4. Click on Servers
  5. Install required components of: IIS: ASP.NET, .NET Extensibility, ASP, CGI, ISAPI Extensions, ISAPI Filters
  6. Install any other options components
  7. Click Install
Add an Application Pool
Follow these steps to add an application pool specifically for SmarterStats:
  1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
  2. Right click on Application Pools from the tree view and choose Add Application Pool
  3. Name the new application pool SmarterStats, or something similarly easy to identify
  4. Set the .Net Framework Version to v4.5.x (Versions 10.x and earlier support .NET 4.0)
  5. Set the Application Pools Managed Pipeline to 'Integrated'
  6. Make sure "Start application pool immediately" is checked
  7. Click OK
Add SmarterStats to IIS
Follow these steps to add SmarterStats to IIS:
  1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
  2. Click on your ServerName, and on the right side, under IIS, double-click ISAPI and CGI Restrictions
  3. Verify that ASP.NET v4.5 is allowed. If not, right click on ASP.NET v4.5.x and select Allowed. (Versions 10.x and earlier support .NET 4.0)
  4. On the left side of the page, right click on Sites in the tree view and choose Add Website
  5. Name the site SmarterStats
  6. If you created an Application Pool name other than SmarterStats, click Select and choose the correct Application Pool
  7. For the physical path, browse to the SmarterStats -> MRS folder. The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\ SmarterTools\ SmarterStats\MRS
  8. For Binding, choose an IP address to use for Webmail. If this IP address is shared with another Web site, you will need to use a different port or Host Headers. For more information about using Host headers, refer to the IIS documentation
  9. Make sure "Start Web site immediately" is checked
  10. Click OK
Verify IIS Settings
Follow these steps to verify the IIS settings. Please read each item carefully.
  1. In IIS Manager, click on your ServerName
  2. Under IIS, double click ISAPI and CGI Restrictions
  3. Verify that ASP .NET v4.5 is allowed. If it is not, right-click on ASP .NET v4.5 and select Allowed. (Versions 10.x and earlier support .NET 4.0)
  4. Click on Application Pools in the tree view
  5. Right click on the SmarterStats application pool and select Advanced Settings
  6. Under the Process Model heading, ensure the the Identity is set to the NetworkService account
  7. From the Start menu, open Administrative Tools and select Services, then verify that the World Wide Publishing Service is running
Article ID: 78, , Modified: 8/9/2019 at 6:48 PM

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