Sams Teach Yourself MCSE Windows NT Server 4 in 14 Days
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): David Schaer, et al
ISBN: 0672311283
Publication Date: 12/15/97

Replication is a two-way relationship. For replication to take place, the import computers must also be set up with the name of the export computer. You do this by following the same process just described, except that you select the Import Directories radio button and click the Add button in that section. Again, you must enter the domain or computer name of the export computer.

The amount of network traffic generated depends on the amount of data to be replicated from the source computer to the destination computers.

By default, the export computer checks every five minutes for changes. Because the Directory Replicator service copies the entire structure if one file changes, using a shallow directory structure rather than a deep one is more efficient. In this manner, those directories with files that have not changed are not replicated, thereby reducing network traffic.

Server Manager

If you want to limit replication to off hours when traffic is at its lowest, you can use Server Manager to lock a directory. While the lock is in place, the directory is not replicated.

The Wait Until Stabilized option in Server Manager causes the server to recopy the entire subtree whenever any file is changed. By deselecting this option, the import server checks the date, time, name, attributes, and size of each individual file and copies only those files that have changed.

Registry Parameters

You also can alter directory replication by editing the registry. These entries are found in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Replicator\ Parameters. The Interval and Pulse parameters are the most useful.

The Interval parameter determines how often the export server checks for updates to the directories to be exported. If changes have occurred, the import server is notified to retrieve the changed files. The default value is five minutes but can be extended. The greater this value, the longer it takes for changes to be reflected on the import servers. However, lengthening this parameter also results in less network traffic.

The Pulse parameter determines how often the import server contacts the export server asking for an update. The default is 2. If the Interval parameter is left at the default of five minutes, the import computer will contact the export computer if it has not heard anything after 10 minutes—a Pulse of 2 times an Interval of 5 minutes. Increasing the pulse lengthens the time interval before the import computer contacts the export computer for updates.

11.7. Internet Information Server (IIS)

Internet Information Server (IIS) is a networking service that runs under Windows NT Server and provides publishing capability for use on the Internet or an intranet. It combines the features of a Web server, an FTP server, and a gopher server into one, integrated network service.

IIS ships with Windows NT Server and can be installed via Control Panel/Network/Services/Add. Follow the steps in the installation wizard and choose which of the services you want to install. Setup is mostly automatic.

After IIS is set up, you can administer it with the Internet Service Manager, located in the Microsoft Internet Server group under the Start menu. The main window of the Internet Service Manager (shown in Figure 11.36) shows simply which services are installed on your system and whether they are running, paused, or stopped.

It is also possible to manage multiple servers from one machine by using the Internet Service Manager. To add a server to the list, simply select Connect to a Server under the Properties menu and enter the server’s name.

Figure 11.36.  Managing Internet services in IIS.

You also can have Internet Service Manager find all servers on the network that are running IIS by selecting Find all Servers under the Properties menu.

11.7.1. Setting General Properties for the WWW Service

The rest of this section presents some of the procedures for managing the WWW publishing service. Select a WWW service and choose Service Properties under the Properties menu. A property sheet like the one in Figure 11.37 is displayed.

Figure 11.37.  Managing the WWW service.

This property sheet enables you to configure general items such as the port information for the WWW service and the logon parameters. You can choose here whether to allow anonymous access to your Web site and what the anonymous guest account should be called.

When IIS is installed, it creates a user account on your system called IUSR_computername. Configure permissions for this account the same as with any other user account.

Virtual Directories in IIS

The Directories property sheet enables you to configure directories and directory behavior for each service (see Figure 11.38). Each service must have a home directory for its content, and that directory is the root directory for the service. In this example, the picture of a house represents the home directory for the WWW service. Any files that you place into this directory will be available to browsers coming to your site.

Figure 11.38.  Managing directories with the WWW service.

You also can add directories that do not physically exist under the real root directory. These are known as virtual directories. In this example, the scripts directory does not really exist inside the wwwroot directory on the hard drive. People browsing your Web site, however, see it as if it did.

To add a virtual directory, click the Add button on the Directories property sheet (refer to Figure 11.38). This brings up the Directory Properties dialog box shown in Figure 11.39.

Figure 11.39.  Adding a virtual directory to IIS.

Type the path of the actual directory you want to publish (or click the Browse button) and enter the alias by which you want this directory known. Choose whether you want Read access, Execute access, or both, and click OK. Your new virtual directory is now set up.