Exact Synergy

Pre Conditions - Internet Information Services (IIS 5 and 6)

Introduction

The e-Synergy program relies heavily on the Microsoft Internet Information Service (version 5 or 6). The IIS5 Web server comes with all versions of the Windows 2000 OS family; Professional, Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter, IIS6 is shipped with the Windows 2003 OS. Since a Web server usually should be accessible to the outside world it is one of the most vulnerable servers in the network. Like during the installation of the operating system it is advised to install only the minimal requirements to run e-Synergy not only to save resources but also to minimize the risk of unwanted activity on the server (think of viruses and uninvited guests). Check the Microsoft site for Service Packs, Updates, Patches and Hot fixes on a regular base since a lot of vulnerabilities of the Microsoft Web server are common knowledge. Security will be discussed in detail later.

Installation

IIS5

IIS 5 is installed per default when installing Windows 2000 Server, for Windows 2000 Professional it can be installed afterwards with the help of the 'Add/Remove Programs' application. The Web components required to run e-Synergy can be installed (or removed) through the following functionality:

>Start >Settings >Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Add Remove Windows Components

Now mark the option box 'Internet Information Services (IIS)' and click on Details
Mark the following options only and deselect all other:
- Common Files
- Internet Information Services Snap-In
- SMTP Server
- World Wide Web Server

Click on 'Ok', 'Next' and 'Finish' to complete the installation of the chosen components. The installation requires the installation CD of the Windows 2000 operating system
Please note that when IIS is present on a server where Exchange Server is also present, the installation of the virtual SMTP server should not be done. Installing the virtual SMTP server on the IIS could cause the Exchange Server software not to function anymore.

IIS6

IIS 6 is not installed per default when installing Windows 2003 Server, it can be installed afterwards with the help of the 'Add/Remove Programs' application. The Web components required to run e-Synergy can be installed (or removed) through the following functionality:

>Start >Settings >Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Add Remove Windows Components

Click on the option 'Application Server' and then 'Details'
Click on the option 'Internet Information Services (IIS)' and then 'Details'
Mark the following options only and deselect all other:
- Common Files
- Internet Information Services Manager
- SMTP Service
- World Wide Web Service

Click on 'Ok', 'Next' and 'Finish' to complete the installation of the chosen components. The installation requires the installation CD of the Windows 2003 operating system
Since Windows 2003 Microsoft changed their policies with regards to installing functionality, whereas before the policy was to install as many features as possible the Windows 2003 OS tries activates as little functionality as possible. The reason for this is to have a cleaner and more secure server environment. For e-Synergy to work some extra measurements need to be taken on the Windows 2003 server, read this document.
Please note that when IIS is present on a server where Exchange Server is also present, the installation of the virtual SMTP server should not be done. Installing the virtual SMTP server on the IIS could cause the Exchange Server software not to function anymore.

Tools

With the installation of the Web components comes the 'Internet Information Services Snap-In'. This tool can be used to administrate and configure the several e-Synergy portals. The tool can be found in the 'Settings, Control Panel, Administrative Tools' folder in the Start menu.

IIS

Manager

Configuration