Am I stuck?

[gregor7777]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/iis.mspx

OK, so the above page is a quick rundown on IIS 5.1 which ships with WinXP.

Now, I have a box that I built to host asp.net 2.0 pages which is what I prefer to work with. As I understand the situation, if you're writing asp 2.0 you are best off with IIS as Apache + Mono is slightly less than desirable.

I have a copy of Windows Server 2003 sitting here that I downloaded from my university but I think I have a hardware incompatbility as when I try to load the OS my monitor reports that the OS is trying to display an unsupported video mode. I assume my onboard video is unsupported, but as I can't seem to get it into safe mode through F8, I cannot tell for sure.

So, I installed WinXP which works great but I plan on hosting several distinct sites (one for my own domain with portfolio and whatnot, one for an application I'm going to begin developing) and plan to use ASP 2.0.

My question is, is there any way around the limitations of IIS 5.1? I could move my own personal site to some hosting soloution, and host the application as my one site...but I'd rather have the whole schebang running on my local box.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Please excuse any ignorance contaminating this post, I'm relatively new to this. TIA

 

[Tarrant64]

I am relatively new to it as well. When setting up something here at work I ran into something where I had to use IIS. I left work and planned to come back the next day to set it up, but a co-worker was all over it already so didn't get a chance to do anything with it as far as setups go. In short, I can't help you there.

As far as the unsupported video mode, I notice when installing Server 2003 a lot on some systems it doesn't have a wide variety of drivers already on the OS, so that could be the culprit. Do you have a video card AGP/PCI-e that you could put in to test it? I am not sure what kind of setup you are currently using.

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
I am relatively new to it as well. When setting up something here at work I ran into something where I had to use IIS. I left work and planned to come back the next day to set it up, but a co-worker was all over it already so didn't get a chance to do anything with it as far as setups go. In short, I can't help you there.

As far as the unsupported video mode, I notice when installing Server 2003 a lot on some systems it doesn't have a wide variety of drivers already on the OS, so that could be the culprit. Do you have a video card AGP/PCI-e that you could put in to test it? I am not sure what kind of setup you are currently using.

Yeah, I do have an old Radeon 9700Pro sitting around, but as I understood the situation Windows Server 2003 had all of the basic video drivers that XP had...maybe that is not the case.

The board is a MSI 661-FM-L with SIS 661 integrated graphics (from memory, may be off). WinXP installs perfect the first time and sets up the basic video driver from the get go...I'd really like to run Server so maybe I'll pop in that 9700.

I woul dneed to locate a driver for Server for the integrated graphics though...it's a M-ATX case with an old PSU so it won't be able to handle the Radeon long term. heat and power concerns...

 

[Tarrant64]

Ahh I see. Yeah, my experiences are that WinXP installs just fine usually with any graphics card I'm using. Sure, drivers still have to be loaded, but I don't have any problems getting to where I need to go. However, with Server '03 I have had a few times installing it where the screen was all sorts of crazy. Resolution, color, screen placement, etc. Once I got the drivers installed(through the mess) everything was fine though.

Hope this helps. Glad to hear you have a 9700 laying around.

 

[RebateMonger]

I'd definitely use Server 2003 with IIS 6.0 if it's available, rather than XP with IIS 5.1.
If you have to, you can always grab a $10 generic PCI video card, since no 3D acceleration is needed.

 

[Markbnj]

It definitely can be done. Here's a link to get you started. Google returned a lot as well. Try searching ".net 2.0 iis 5.1"

http://forums.asp.net/thread/1240992.aspx

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I'd definitely use Server 2003 with IIS 6.0 if it's available, rather than XP with IIS 5.1.
If you have to, you can always grab a $10 generic PCI video card, since no 3D acceleration is needed.

It's looking that way...I don't think I can deal with the restriction of XP on this one.

I'm going to try installin the Radeon, then loadig the driver for the mainboard, then removing the Radeon. If that doesn't work, I'll grab a cheapo...

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: gregor7777

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I'd definitely use Server 2003 with IIS 6.0 if it's available, rather than XP with IIS 5.1.
If you have to, you can always grab a $10 generic PCI video card, since no 3D acceleration is needed.

It's looking that way...I don't think I can deal with the restriction of XP on this one.

I'm going to try installin the Radeon, then loadig the driver for the mainboard, then removing the Radeon. If that doesn't work, I'll grab a cheapo...

Sounds like a plan. :thumbsup:

 

[Nothinman]

Are you comparing a slipstreamed XP SP2 disc installation to the Server 2003 installation? Server 2003 is based on XP SP2 and it's probable that the included drivers changed since the original release of XP.

 

[nweaver]

Don't run IIS5....that's like driving a pinto full of gas in a demo derby.

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Are you comparing a slipstreamed XP SP2 disc installation to the Server 2003 installation? Server 2003 is based on XP SP2 and it's probable that the included drivers changed since the original release of XP.

As far as the Windows XP disc is concerned, I'm not sure how it's setup. Both discs are downloaded from Microsoft's MSDNAA so whatever it is they offer there that's what I have in terms of versions.

What I am saying is that at least at one point, Windows XP had a working driver for that mainboard's VGA. It still does on the WinXP CD I have. I just set it up and it works great.

The Server 2003 CD on the other had does not seem to have a working driver for the mainboard's VGA. I thought that was strange because I thought that Server would have at least the same driver set as XP. I may be mistaken though....

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: nweaver
Don't run IIS5....that's like driving a pinto full of gas in a demo derby.

Server 2003 has version 6 of IIS? I would definetely rather be working with that, if for no other reason than to have the most current tech, to say nothing of the restrictions on 5.1

 

[gregor7777]

Hey all, just a quick update:

Server 2003 installed witout a hitch with the Radeon in there. The graphics chipset on the mainboard is totally unrecognized, so when I get off work today I'm going to try installing the driver and removing the Radeon.

Thanks so far for everyone's help!

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: gregor7777

Originally posted by: nweaver
Don't run IIS5....that's like driving a pinto full of gas in a demo derby.

Server 2003 has version 6 of IIS? I would definetely rather be working with that, if for no other reason than to have the most current tech, to say nothing of the restrictions on 5.1

Latest tech aside, IIS6 is a HUGE security improvement. IIS5 has a horrible track record. You can blame Microsoft, but when you look at IIS6, they finally got it right (very few security alerts). Stash mentioned something about their newer dev policies/tools contributing to that, iirc.

 

[gregor7777]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: gregor7777

Originally posted by: nweaver
Don't run IIS5....that's like driving a pinto full of gas in a demo derby.

Server 2003 has version 6 of IIS? I would definetely rather be working with that, if for no other reason than to have the most current tech, to say nothing of the restrictions on 5.1

Latest tech aside, IIS6 is a HUGE security improvement. IIS5 has a horrible track record. You can blame Microsoft, but when you look at IIS6, they finally got it right (very few security alerts). Stash mentioned something about their newer dev policies/tools contributing to that, iirc.

Cool thanks for the info.

So it appears that that onboard video is TOTALLY unsupported as I can't even get the driver to install. Ah well, I'll leave the radeon in there for now until I get my hands on a less power hungry card.

Until then, I'll be playing around with this new(to me) OS...seems like there lots of stuff to learn in there.

Thanks all!

 

[RebateMonger]

This $10 ATI RAGE XL PCI video card is what our Dell 400SC came with, which we use for an SBS 2003 Server. Dell has used ATI Rage XL chips for its server with onboard video, too, like the Dell 1600SC server.