--- title: "Prepare the installation" slug: "prepare-the-installation" tags: ["Server"] updated: 2025-08-08T08:26:32Z published: 2025-08-08T08:26:32Z canonical: "docs.grassfish.com/prepare-the-installation" excludeFromExternalSearch: true --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.grassfish.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Prepare the installation Before you install the IXM Server, ensure that you’ve installed the following components or install them now: - [Microsoft .NET](/grassfish/docs/prepare-the-installation#install-microsoft-net) - [Microsoft IIS](/grassfish/docs/prepare-the-installation#install-microsoft-iis) - [Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Management Studio (SSMS)](/grassfish/docs/prepare-the-installation#install-microsoft-sql-server-and-ssms) - [URL Rewrite](/grassfish/docs/prepare-the-installation#install-url-rewrite) - [Additional software](/grassfish/docs/prepare-the-installation#install-additional-software) ## Install Microsoft .NET To use Grassfish web services and Grassfish backend services, you must install Microsoft .NET. You can get the installation files and instructions from Microsoft, or you can start the installation as described here. Perform the following steps to install .NET on MS Server 2019: 1. Open **Server Manager** in one of the following ways: - On the Windows taskbar, click **Server Manager**. - On the Windows Home screen, click the **Server Manager** tile. 2. To add a new role, select **Add roles and features**. 3. Under **Features**, select your **.NET Framework** version and **WCF Services**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e2b87f73-d9f5-43cb-8182-2641762664fd/Images/Documentation/prepare-the-installation-image-rzb5k0ln.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-26T12%3A29%3A09Z&se=2026-10-26T13%3A29%3A09Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kxjQ%2BHiH0HaKVfo%2BMeG%2Fr%2BIl7lQodwoPl%2FTDg81qHM8%3D) 4. Click **Next** and proceed with the installation as instructed by the installer. 5. If the server requests the installation of additional features, allow it. ## Install Microsoft IIS Perform the following steps to install Microsoft IIS web server on MS Server 2019: 1. Open **Server Manager** in one of the following ways: - On the Windows taskbar, click **Server Manager**. - On the Windows Home screen, click the **Server Manager** tile. 2. To add a new role, select **Add roles and features**. 3. Under **Server Roles**, select **Webserver (IIS)** and the options shown in the following image. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e2b87f73-d9f5-43cb-8182-2641762664fd/Images/Documentation/prepare-the-installation-image-yot1sxrn.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-26T12%3A29%3A09Z&se=2026-10-26T13%3A29%3A09Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kxjQ%2BHiH0HaKVfo%2BMeG%2Fr%2BIl7lQodwoPl%2FTDg81qHM8%3D) 4. Click **Next** and proceed with the installation as instructed by the installer. 5. If the server requests the installation of additional features, allow it. ## Install Microsoft SQL Server and SSMS Note the following information before you install Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Management Studio (SSMS): - Grassfish uses the data storage as a file system as well as MS SQL Server. - You can use an SQL or Active Directory user to connect with the server. If you use an Active Directory user, you must run the Grassfish backend services and the application pool to start the web services with this user. - The Express edition is sufficient for basic SQL Server version. This allows you to operate approximately 100 Grassfish players. Larger installations require a commercial version like the Web edition or higher. Download and install SQL Server and Management Studio as per Microsoft’s instructions. > [!TIP] > Note > > You must set the database server authentication to SQL Server Authentication. You can do this during SQL Server installation or later through SSMS. > > ![](https://cdn.document360.io/e2b87f73-d9f5-43cb-8182-2641762664fd/Images/Documentation/prepare-the-installation-image-y9pou6yw.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-26T12%3A29%3A09Z&se=2026-10-26T13%3A29%3A09Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=kxjQ%2BHiH0HaKVfo%2BMeG%2Fr%2BIl7lQodwoPl%2FTDg81qHM8%3D) ## Install URL Rewrite Grassfish uses the web server’s URL Rewrite extension to rewrite HTTP requests to HTTPS and rewrite header information. You can find the installer and installation manual on the following website: [https://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/url-rewrite](https://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/url-rewrite) > [!NOTE] > Note > > You must [install Microsoft IIS](/grassfish/docs/prepare-the-installation#install-microsoft-iis) before URL Rewrite. ## Install additional software We recommend installing the following additional software. ### Notepad++ Notepad++ is a free editor that supports syntax display and opening several text files simultaneously. You can find the installer and installation instructions on the following website: [https://notepad-plus-plus.org/](https://notepad-plus-plus.org/) ### 7-Zip 7-Zip is a free data compression tool. You can find the installer and installation instructions on the following website: [http://7-zip.org/](http://7-zip.org/) ### IIS Crypto IIS Crypto is a free tool that allows you to disable insecure ciphers and protocols. It also provides up-to-date templates to facilitate the deactivation process. You can find the installer and installation instructions on the following website: [https://www.nartac.com/Products/IISCrypto](https://www.nartac.com/Products/IISCrypto) ### FTP server If the IXM Server needs to be accessible via FTP for data provision or upload, we recommend installing an FTP server. Grassfish typically uses the Filezilla FTP server, which supports FTP and FTPS. You can find the installer and installation instructions on the following website: [https://filezilla-project.org/download.php](https://filezilla-project.org/download.php)