How to Add a Domain Name to IIS on Windows Server

What is IIS?

IIS stands for Internet Information Services. It is the web server program from Microsoft. A web server program hands out web pages to visitors. IIS can host many sites on one server. Each site needs a name so IIS knows which one to show.

That name is set in a binding. A binding links a domain name, an IP address and a port to one website. A port is like a door number. Websites normally use port 80, and port 443 for HTTPS.

Before you start

• You need admin access to the Windows Server (RDP login). RDP lets you see the server screen from your computer.
• Your domain's DNS must point to the server's IP address. DNS is the phone book that connects names to numbers. Set this at your domain registrar.

  

• Put your website files in a folder on the server.

Steps

1. Connect to the server with Remote Desktop.
2. Open Server Manager. Go to Tools and click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   

3. In the left panel, expand your server name.
4. Right-click Sites and choose Add Website. To use an existing site, click on it instead.

   

   

5. Type a name for the site.
6. For Physical path, browse to your site folder.
7. Leave the type as http and port as 80.

   

8. In the Host name box, type your domain, for example www.example.com.
9. Click OK.

Adding more names to an existing site

1. Select the site in the left panel.
2. Click Bindings on the right side.
3. Click Add.
4. Enter the host name, such as example.com.
5. Click OK, then Close.

Add one binding for the name with www and one without it.

Test it

1. Open a browser on your own computer.
2. Type your domain name.
3. Your site should open. DNS changes can take some time to spread.

Quick recap

• IIS uses bindings to link a domain to a site.
• Point DNS to the server first.
• Use Add Website or Bindings in IIS Manager.

  

• Enter the domain in the Host name box.