Windows hosted virtual private server (VPS) set up

In early 2010 I migrated my websites from shared web host that had begun to suck to a virtual private server (VPS) provided by Web24.

I did this for performance reasons as the shared web host had degraded over the course of several years, and additionally I wanted control over what was installed on the machine just like when at work.

Due to low traffic and budget constraints I'm running the VPS as a web server (IIS), DB server (SQL Server Express, and MySQL) and an SMTP server.  Here are my notes regarding the server installation and configuration so I can do it again fairly quickly if needed.

NOTE: these details were accurate at March 2010, newer versions and service packs are probably available now.

VPS Configuration
Windows Server 2003 R2, 64 bit
IIS 6
1GB RAM
10GB disk space
Parallels Power Panel
Full remote desktop access

General Utilities Installed
7zip, notepad++, Winmerge and Sysinternals Suite

Web Platform Installer
Used the WPI to install: .NET FW 2.0 .NET FW 3.5SP1, MVC 2.0

Database Servers
MySQL:

• MySQL Community Server
• MySQL GUI Tools 5
• Install guide: Install and Configure MySQL 5 on Windows (non-strict mode)

SQL Server 2008 Express:

• Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable x64  (Required for SQL 2008)
• Windows PowerShell 1.0 x64 (Required for SQL 2008)
• Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Express with Tools
• SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1

SMTP Mail Server

hMailServer:

• hMailServer Download
• Guide: Setting up your own email server with hMailServer
• Guide: Quick set up
• Docs: Configuration tutorial
• Finally, testing for Anonymous Relay

PHP5 on IIS6

• Download latest PHP For Windows (following notes based on v5.3.x)
• If you are using PHP with IIS you should use the VC9 versions of PHP (Microsoft 2008 C++ Runtime (x86) or the Microsoft 2008 C++ Runtime (x64)  installed)
• Since PHP v5.3 uses FastCGI we should use the non-thread safe version of PHP (php-5.3.2-nts-Win32-VC9-x86.zip)
• Download FastCGI for IIS (Note: can use FastCGI x64 with php x86 ok, see this thread: FastCGI x64 glitch)
• Guide: Installing FastCGI and PHP for IIS 6.0
• Guide: Installing PHP 5 on IIS in 5 simple steps (v5.2 only)
• Guide: How to install PHP 5.x on Windows Server 2003 with IIS 6
• Windows Server x64 specific config: PHP on 64 bit Windows (fixes "%1 is not a valid Win32 application" issue by allowing IIS to run 32 bit apps.  Here is the command: cscript %SYSTEMDRIVE%\inetpub\adminscripts\adsutil.vbs SET W3SVC/AppPools/Enable32bitAppOnWin64 1

Web Mail

roundcube (PHP application):

• Download roundcube
• Guide: Install and configure RoundCube Webmail on IIS
• Guide: Install Roundcube with IIS6 and hMs internal DB
• Guide: Installation
• Guide: Configuration

Yep, that's it, too easy really.  Overall I'm pretty happy with Web24 - faster than the old shared hosting, and (almost) complete control over the environment. Only downside is a few more sysadmin tasks.

Next thing to do is switch to Server 2008 with IIS 7.