Using IIS server, and how do I view websites

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

I am running the IIS server on windows 2000, and I am not sure how to actually test websites. I thought after I am running the web server, I can put any .asp or .html file in the web root, C:\Inetpub\wwwroot and then in my explorer I can type
http://localhost/[filename but I just get a 404 error. I am a real newbie so I guess I must be doing it wrong.

Can somebody give me some direction?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

That's how you do it, you are probably overlooking something.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

This sounds silly, but I'll try it right after the post...but my router right now is blocking http requests, or rather port 80 (I think)...would that affect it...because I was under the impression that a call to http://localhost/ won't even bounce to the router, it will just reside entirely on my own machine as if I wasn't even connected to the net.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: DeadSeaSquirrels
I was under the impression that a call to http://localhost/ won't even bounce to the router, it will just reside entirely on my own machine as if I wasn't even connected to the net.

Yeah, that's how it should work.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

nope, I changed teh router so that it port forwarded 80 to me, but still nothing. I don't know, if there is any setting I could have screwed up...because the FTP server works...and also I know the actual webpage exists and works...

I am literally typing: http://localhost/postinfo.html

arg...what's going on...if anybody thinks of anything, please let me know.

 

[SaturnX]

Have you started the Web Service? If you go into your IIS Control Panel, there will be a list of the different servers you have installed, ie: Web, FTP, SMTP etc...

Make sure that it doesn't say "Stopped" beside the Web Service. If it does, just hit the "Play" button on the top menu bar, that'll get it going.

If not, check your Windows HOSTS file to see if localhost is referenced somewhere else or is not referenced at all.

--Mark

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

where can I find the windows HOST file?

ok I found the host file, and it reads"

127.0.0.1 localhost

with some comments.

I did some reading, and it appears that 127.0.0.1 is some blackhole, I am about to change it to my LAN IP 192.168.1.101

well I changed it and still nothing is happening.

 

[MrChad]

Don't change the address for localhost, it's supposed to be 127.0.0.1 (loopback address).

If you just type in http://localhost, do you get anything? You should see an IIS documentation page pop up.

When you open up the IIS manager (Control Panel / Administrative Tools / IIS) and select the "Default Web Site," do you see the files you are expecting to see in the right-hand pane? If not, check the website's default directory (it may not be pointing to C:\Inetpub\wwwroot).

Open up the Services Control Panel under Administrative Tools and make sure "World Wide Web Publishing Service" is started.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

>>Don't change the address for localhost, it's supposed to be 127.0.0.1 (loopback address).

Ok it is left as 127.0.0.1


>>If you just type in http://localhost, do you get anything? You should see an IIS documentation >>page pop up.

Nope nothing pops up, I also tried http://LocalHost but I didn't think that would make a difference anyway.

>>When you open up the IIS manager (Control Panel / Administrative Tools / IIS) and select >>the "Default Web Site," do you see the files you are expecting to see in the right-hand pane? >>If not, check the website's default directory (it may not be pointing to C:\Inetpub\wwwroot).

I'm not sure what you are saying here...but when I double click on Default Website I see a bunch of files, as well as what appears to be aliases. Everything looks fine...everything looks like it is pointing to the right things. Home is pointing to c:\Inetpub\ftproot, and I don't think I changed it, but should that be c:\Inetpub\wwwroot? I think it is right because when I go to see the properties of teh Default Web Site Properties, and go to the Home Directory tab, c:\inetpub\wwwroot is set as the local path. hmm?


>>Open up the Services Control Panel under Administrative Tools and make sure "World Wide >>Web Publishing Service" is started.

It is definitely started. I have a feeling it is something that is super simple, and it is going to be really hard? Maybe I'll read some more about the different fields in these properties, and I'll see something. Please post any ideas as they come along.

 

[DeadSeaSquirrels]

Ok I figured it out, or at least some of it. When I checked out the properties of my "Default Web Site..." under the field "IP Address:" by default it is set to "All Unassigned" which I have no idea, what that means, but I apparently changed it to 192.168.1.101, which is my LAN IP from the router. Well it made sense to me then, but I guess it should be "All Unassigned." When I changed it back to the default setting everything worked.

So can somebody explain to me what that field is suppose to represent?