Before you configure an IIS service group

Last published : Aug 05, 2026
Note the following prerequisites before you configure an IIS service group:
  • Verify IIS is installed and configured identically on all nodes hosting the service group. Verify that the sites to be monitored are on shared storage.
  • You must install the following role services for IIS 10.0:
    • IIS 6 Metabase Compatibility
    • IIS 6 WMI Compatibility or the IIS Management Scripts and Tools
Only one of these role services is required.
These options are available under Management Tools on the Role Services page of the Add Roles Wizard.
If IIS 6 Metabase Compatability role is installed, the WMI 6 Provider is used. If IIS Management Scripts and Tools role is installed, the WMI 7 Provider is used. If both the roles are installed, the WMI 7 Provider is used.
These components are required for the IIS agent to function on Windows Server.
  • For Windows Server Core editions, you must install IIS in the specified order.
See Installing IIS on Windows Server Core.
  • If IIS configuration is using IPv6 addresses, then you must install the IIS Management Scripts and Tools role service.
IPv6 requires WMI 7 Provider that is part of the IIS Management Scripts and Tools role.
  • If you are configuring FTP sites that use IPv6 addresses, ensure that the IPv6 address entry (IP Address column in Site Bindings dialog) is enclosed in square brackets. The VCS IIS Configuration Wizard requires this format to correctly configure the FTP site in the cluster.
See Fixing the IPv6 address configuration for FTP sites.
  • Do not use the IIS agent to configure SMTP and NNTP sites if you have Microsoft Exchange installed.
  • Change the default home directory path for all IIS sites to monitored to a location on the shared storage. See the IIS documentation for instructions.
  • Verify that the port numbers assigned to IIS sites are not used by other programs.
  • Synchronize the IIS configuration on all nodes hosting the service group.
See About configuring IIS sites.
  • Verify that you have local administrator privileges on the system from where you run the wizard.
  • If you have configured a firewall, add the required ports and services to the Firewall Exception list.
For a detailed list of services and ports used refer to the product installation and upgrade guide.
  • Verify that the VCS engine, HAD, is running on the node from which you run the wizard.
  • Mount the drives or LUNs containing the shared directories on the node from which you run the wizard. Unmount the drives or LUNs from other nodes in the cluster.
  • If your storage is SCSI-3 compliant and you wish to use SCSI-3 persistent reservations, enable SCSI-3 support using Arctera Enterprise Administrator (formerly VEA).
  • Keep the following information ready. The wizard prompts you for these details:
    • IIS sites to be monitored
    • Application pools associated with each site
    • Port numbers associated with each site
    • Virtual IP addresses and computer names associated with the sites
The virtual IP addresses and the virtual computer names must have forward and reverse entries in the DNS.