IIS Server Notes

IIS versions 5.1 and higher are supported by XMB 1.9.12.

We do not actively test IIS anymore, so all of the notes are about old issues.

PHP 5.2.9+ on IIS

The IIS FastCGI component is required for XMB to run on newer versions of PHP. FastCGI is included starting with IIS version 7.0. For more information, see Microsoft's Using FastCGI to Host PHP Applications on IIS 7.0.

Anyone attempting to run XMB on IIS version 6.0 must read and follow the instructions in Microsoft's Using FastCGI to Host PHP Applications on IIS 6.0.

After installing FastCGI, you can then install PHP. XMB has been tested with the php-5.3.1-nts-Win32-VC9-x86.msi version, and you should be able to use other versions as well.

When asked which components to install, make sure to include these:

• GD2
• MySQL

If you already installed PHP and are missing the required components, you can re-run the installer and click the "Change" button.

One of the many potential problems with IIS 6.0 is that the "Application extensions" mapping has hierarchical overrides. The trick is to configure your specific website so that the ".php" file extension is mapped to the FastCGI library instead of the PHP program. When ".php" files are mapped to PHP, everything breaks. This is opposite of how it used to work, where the PHP installer would map ".php" to itself automatically and everything was fine.

Another potential problem is that the extension mapping dialog box silently refuses to accept any path with spaces, even if you use the Browse button. Try putting the FastCGI path in double quotes if necessary.

PHP 5.2.8 on IIS

XMB has been tested with the IIS ISAPI version of PHP. This is the easiest way to install PHP for use with XMB.

When asked which components to install, make sure to include these:

• GD2
• MySQL
• Pspell

If you already installed PHP and are missing the required components, you can re-run the installer and click the "Change" button.

Opera and IIS

The latest version of the Opera web browser (10.50) is incompatible with IIS. Opera is known to transmit the wrong HTTP verb in certain situations, such as when uploading file attachments. A fix for this is currently available from Microsoft, FIX: Http.sys rejects requests that contain separator characters. If your users report the server error "Bad Request (Invalid Verb)" when trying to attach files on XMB, then follow instructions under the header, Permit HTTP Verbs That Are Not Case-Sensitive, and restart IIS.