Set up SmarterStats as an IIS Site (IIS 7.0/7.5)

By default, SmarterStats installs a basic Web server that allows administrators to start using the application immediately after installation. However, SmarterTools recommends moving to a more robust and secure Web server, such as Microsoft IIS.

The instructions for setting up SmarterStats as an IIS site differ slightly depending on whether you are using IIS 6.0 or IIS 7.0.

NOTE: This topic assumes that you are familiar with IIS and how it works. SmarterTools recommends that you use the Web server included with SmarterStats if you are unfamiliar with or uncomfortable using Microsoft IIS.

Applies to All Versions of SmarterStats

This article covers the following:

• Disabling the SmarterStats Web server
• Adding a new application pool for SmarterStats
• Adding SmarterStats to IIS
• Verifying IIS Settings
• Updating DNS
• Testing the site

Disabling the SmarterStats Web Server
These steps will 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 -> SmarterTools -> SmarterStats -> Configure SmarterStats Web Server
2. Click on the Stop butto
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 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 v4.0.x
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 v4.0 is allowed (If not, right click on ASP.NET v4.0.x and select Allowed)
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 v4.0 is allowed. If it is not, right-click on ASP .NET v4.0 and select Allowed
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

For more information, refer to the SmarterStats Online Help.