Documentation forServer & Application Monitor

Assign AppInsight for IIS to nodes in SAM

SAM offers several ways to add AppInsight for IIS to monitored nodes:

  • During the Discovery process.
  • For new nodes, use the Add Node wizard.
  • For existing nodes, navigate to the Node Details view.

When you allow SAM to automatically configure target servers for AppInsight (a process also called "Zero Config"), SAM runs custom PowerShell scripts on target servers to:

  • Configure PowerShell execution policies.
  • Create a self-signed certificate for AppInsight for IIS.]
  • Enable the WinRM service to provide the SolarWinds Platform server with remote access to target servers.
  • Add a firewall rule to enable remote access by WinRM and WSMan services.
  • Create a WinRM listener.

You can also configure AppInsight for IIS manually.

Due to the complexity of AppInsight templates, allow extra time for configuration to finish when assigning to nodes.

Use the Add Node wizard to set up AppInsight for IIS on a new node

  1. Review AppInsight for IIS requirements and permissions.
  2. Click Settings > All Settings > Add Node.
  3. Complete the information on the Define Node step, and then click Next.
  4. On the Choose Resources step in the Add Node Wizard, select AppInsight for IIS.
  5. Click Next and complete the wizard as instructed.
  6. Navigate to the SAM Summary page.
  7. In the All Applications widget, expand the AppInsight for IIS tree view to display the new node.

  8. Click Microsoft IIS to open the Configure IIS Server for Monitoring dialog box.


  9. Enter Exchange credentials and click Configure Server to start the automated process. A confirmation message appears when the process is complete.

    If the node enters an Unknown state, check AppInsight for IIS requirements and permissions for the target server.

Add AppInsight for IIS to an existing node via the Node Details view

  1. Navigate to the Node Details view for the node.

  2. In the Management widget, click List Resources.

  3. Select the Microsoft IIS check box and click Submit.

    If the Microsoft IIS option does not appear, review AppInsight for IIS requirements and permissions.

  4. Navigate to the SAM Summary page.
  5. In the All Applications widget, expand the AppInsight for IIS tree view to display the node.

  6. Click Microsoft IIS to open the Configure IIS Server for Monitoring dialog box.

  7. Enter Exchange credentials, and then click Configure Server to start the automated process. A confirmation message appears when the process is complete.

    If the node enters an Unknown state, check AppInsight for IIS requirements and permissions for the target server.

Add AppInsight for IIS to an existing WMI node

  1. In the SolarWinds Platform Web Console, navigate to the Node Details view of any WMI node running IIS.

    You must know which nodes are running IIS.

  2. From the Management widget, click List Resources.

  3. Select Microsoft IIS to enable AppInsight for IIS data collection, then click Submit.

    List Resources shows all monitorable features of a node.

  4. Click the All Applications widget to verify the addition by clicking the Applications.
  5. Enter your IIS credentials when prompted, and click Configure Server.

For troubleshooting information, see Troubleshoot AppInsight for IIS.

View IIS application data

SolarWinds SAM displays IIS data in views. The type of view determines the level of detail. For example, the AppInsight for IIS Details view provides a rollup of information about that IIS server, including statistics about all the sites on the server, application pools, and connections.

Navigate to the AppInsight for IIS Application Details view

  1. Click My Dashboards >Applications > IIS to open the IIS Application Summary view.
  2. In the All Applications widget, expand a node, drill down, and click Microsoft IIS to open the Application Details view.
  3. Click an IIS application to view.

The Applnsight for IIS Application Details view includes different widgets that display details for sites, applications pools, and more. Click hyperlinks in each widget to learn more about the data.

For example, click a website link in the Sites widget to open the IIS Site Details view for that website. To return to the AppInsight for IIS Application Details view, click the Back button in your browser.

Navigate to the Performance Counter Details view

From the AppInsight for IIS Details view, click a performance counter in any widget to open the IIS Statistic Details view for the counter. For example, click ASP.NET > Requests Rejected.

An Expert Knowledge widget appears on IIS Statistic Details view for each performance counter general information about the selected counter, along with possible problems and troubleshooting steps, where applicable. Find expert knowledge on the Performance Counter Details view.

What's next

AppInsight for IIS can help you monitor and troubleshoot IIS. However, a software monitoring solution cannot detect failed hardware issues, such as insufficient RAM or a failed cooling fan. To detect hardware issues, enable Hardware Health monitoring.