Windows XP Professional Edition includes the Microsoft IIS server software and is a suitable platform to use while creating, developing, or testing a web site. The benefits include:
web sites and applications can operate "locally" (without being connected to the internet and without using an external web server).
the web server environment available on Windows XP Professional is a near simulation of the environment available on the Windows Server operating systems. Developers can be confident that web sites developed locally will operate properly on a large-scale web server.
Some of our customers use Windows XP Professional for the following purposes.
Webmasters may create, develop, and test their web sites thoroughly on Windows XP Pro before launching the web site to a true web server.
Webmasters may develop a "demonstration" or "proof-of-concept" application to display to their potential clients. Using Windows XP Professional in these cases is convenient because the product can then operate on a laptop computer without having to be connected to the internet.
Note: Windows XP Professional is not a suitable platform for public web sites. The operating system is not designed to manage the traffic that public web sites experience. It is meant for development purposes only.
Instructions
These instructions cover the following steps to help you configure and use 20/20 DataShed on a computer running Windows XP Professional Edition:
Extract/Unzip the 20/20 DataShed package to a suitable folder on your computer.
Ensure that the Microsoft IIS server software is installed in the system.
Create and configure a virtual web folder in which to develop and serve your web site.
Configure the appropriate NTFS permission and security settings to ensure that 20/20 DataShed will operate properly.
Proceed to the "Setup" page of 20/20 DataShed - further instructions are provided during setup.
Step-by-Step
Step 1: Extract/Unzip the 20/20 DataShed package to a suitable folder on your computer.
For this example we will create a new folder under the "/Inetpub/wwwroot/" folder that is created in all Windows XP Professional systems when IIS is installed.
Navigate to the 20/20 DataShed zip package that was downloaded from www.2020applications.com. In our example, the "datashed.zip" file is on our desktop.
Right-click on the zip file and select "Extract All..." from the context menu. The "Compressed Folders Extraction Wizard" will open. See below:
Click "Next >"
Click the "Browse..." button and navigate to "C:\Inetpub\wwwroot". If the folder do not exist, you may create them.
Click "Next >". The package will be extracted to that folder.
When the process is complete, leave "Show Extracted Files" checked and click "Finish". The wwwroot folder will open in a new Windows Explorer window. See below:
Leave that window open if you wish...we will return to it later to set security and permissions on the folders.
Proceed to the next section.
Step 2: Ensure that the Microsoft IIS server software is installed in the system.
Navigate to the "Start" menu, then "All Programs" and "Administrative Tools".If the IIS is installed in your system then you should see a menu item called "Internet Information Services".
If the IIS is installed in your system then you should see a menu item called "Internet Information Services". If so, then skip ahead to the next section: the button entitled "Step 2".
If the IIS is not installed in your system then visit any of the following tutorials:
or Run ASP on Your PC by w3schools.com. (This tutorial also includes instructions to operate ASP applications on Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003.)
Note that you must also install the SMTP service (which is selected by default when you install IIS).
When you have finished installing the IIS and open it, you should see a window similar to this:
Step 3: Create and configure a virtual web folder in which to develop and serve your web site.
If the "Internet Information Services" management console is not already open, then open it by navigating through "Start" menu > "All Programs" > "Administrative Tools" > "Internet Information Services".
Right-click on the "Default Web Site" and select "New..." then "Virtual Directory" from the context menu. See below:
The "Virtual Directory Creation Wizard" will open. Click "Next >".
In the "Alias" textbox, give your new web site a friendly name. This name can be changed later but will be used like a domain name on your local computer. In our example below we have named it "sandbox". When this process is complete we will be able to navigate the web site located at http://localhost/sandbox/. See below:
Click "Next >"
Click the "Browse..." button and navigate to the new "2020datashed" folder at C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\2020datashed. See below:
Click "Next >"
On the "Access Permissions" panel, you can leave the default settings. See below:
Click "Next >"
You are now finished and the virtual directory is ready for use.
When you click "Finish", your IIS management console may look similar to the following:
Step 4: Configure the appropriate NTFS permission and security settings to ensure that 20/20 DataShed will operate properly.
In Windows Explorer, navigate to the C:\Inetpub\wwwroot folder where the 20/20 DataShed zip file was extracted. You must now ensure that the files and folders have the appropriate permission settings.
Right-click on the "2020datashed" folder and select "Sharing and Security" from the context menu.
If the "Properties" dialog box does not have a "Security" tab like the following screen shot, then proceed you will need to enable advanced file sharing options. See the next step.
If you do not see a "Security" tab in the dialog box, then:
Close the dialog box.
Select "Tools" > "Folder Options" from the Windows Explorer tool bar.
Select the "View" tab in the "Folder Options" dialog box.
In the "Advanced Settings" pane, scroll down until you see an option called "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)".
UN-check that option. See below:
Click "OK" or "Apply".
Close the dialog box, then return to step #2 above.
Now, using the tools on the "Security" tab, we can ensure that the files and folders have the appropriate permission settings. The easiest method is to:
Click "Add..."
Type "Everyone" OR "IUSR_<localmachinename>" in the text box. (Where <localmachinename>" is the value of the "From this location:" panel. Example: IUSR_Desktop or perhaps IUSR_MichaelsComputer
Then click "OK"
In the "Group or user names" pane you will now see "Everyone" or "Internet Guest Account" listed.
With that group or user selected in the top pane, click "Full Control" in the Permissions pane.
Click "OK" or "Apply" to finish.
This is the least secure configuration, but it's also the easiest. For more security we recommend you visit the very detailed NTFS Permissions pages.
Step 5: Proceed to the "Setup" page of 20/20 DataShed.
At this point in the process, you should have already stepped through the previous instructions and your virtual directory is now configured and ready for use. Now you may navigate to your web site in your web browser and proceed through the rest of the setup online.
Open a web browser and in the address bar type the following:
http://localhost/sandbox/login.asp
Note that "sandbox" should be replaced with the alias you chose in Step 3 (#4).
You should now see the following screen.
From this page you may proceed with the online instructions.
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