Installing IIS to Support the Velocity Web Services Client (VWSC)_v3.8.4

Owned by Anand Rajaraman
Last updated: Feb 26, 2023
14 min read

Before you can install and use the Velocity Web Services Client, you must first install Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) on your Velocity standalone Workstation, Velocity Server or dedicated IIS Server.

The Velocity Web Services Client is an optional feature. If your organization isn’t comfortable providing remote access to your access control system, do not install IIS or the Velocity Web Services Client.

For details about the versions of Windows supported by recent releases of Velocity, see the table below Step 4 in the Introduction topic.

The details for installing IIS to support the Velocity Web Services Client vary somewhat for each version of Windows; that information is provided in the appropriate version of the Velocity Web Services Client Installation Guide and Release Notes. For your convenience, this topic provides procedures for installing IIS on Windows 10 Pro, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019.

Before you can install and use the Velocity Web Services Client, you must first install Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS). If your organization isn’t comfortable providing remote access to your physical access control system, do not install IIS or the Velocity Web Services Client.

System Requirements

This version of the Velocity Web Services Client requires the following components:

  • A physical access control system with various hardware components controlled by version 3.8.4 of the Hirsch Velocity security management system software

  • The optional Velocity Web Services Client

  • A Web Server running Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) (version 6.0 or later)

  • A personal computer, tablet computer, or smartphone running a relatively current Web browser such as:

    • Google’s Chrome minimum version 45.0 but recommended is 107.0

    • Microsoft’s Edge minimum version 18.0 but recommended is 107.0

    • Mozilla’s Firefox minimum version 34.0 but recommended is 106.0

    • Apple’s Safari minimum version 10.0 but recommended is 16.0

Identiv recommends using Google’s Chrome browser with a device display resolution of 1024 x 768. (At a lower resolution, you will not be able to see part of a large dialog such as Credential Properties.)

Prerequisite

The optional Velocity Web Services Client can be installed either as part of a full Velocity 3.8.4 installation or separately after the Velocity installation. After installing this client, you must also perform a few configuration and setup tasks.

To install the Velocity Web Services Client, you must be logged into Windows using an account that has Administrator privileges, and you must know the name and password of the Velocity Services account (which were specified during the Velocity installation).

Installing Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS)

Before you can install and use the Velocity Web Services Client, you must first install Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) on either your standalone Workstation, Velocity Server or dedicated IIS Server.  The following table shows which versions of Windows are supported by Velocity 3.8.4 for those computer roles.

System Role

Supported version of Windows by Velocity 3.8.4

System Role

Supported version of Windows by Velocity 3.8.4

Velocity Server

  • Windows Server 2016

  • Windows Server 2019

Velocity Standalone Workstation

  • Windows Server 2016

  • Windows Server 2019

  • Windows 10 Pro

Installing IIS on Windows 10

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Locate and click on the ‘Turn Windows Features on or off' link.

  3. In the resulting Windows Features dialog, expand the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0), the .NET Framework 4.7 Advanced Services, and the Internet Information Services folders to reveal the available options.

  4. Check [√]the following set of options, and then click OK. (Most of these options are shown in the next screen capture.)

    • .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

    • .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) > Windows Communication Foundation HTTP Activation

    • .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) > Windows Communication Foundation Non-HTTP Activation

    • .NET Framework 4.7 Advanced Services > ASP.NET 4.7

    • NET Framework 4.7 Advanced Services > WCF Services > TCP Port Sharing

    • Internet Explorer 11

    • Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility

    • Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Management Console

    • Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Scripting Tools

    • Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 WMI Compatibility

    • Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Metabase and IIS 6 configuration compatibility

    • Internet Information Services > Web Management Tools > IIS Management Console

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features > .NET Extensibility 3.5

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features > .NET Extensibility 4.7

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features > ASP.NET 3.5

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features > ASP.NET 4.7

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features > ISAPI Extensions

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Application Development Features > ISAPI Filters

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Common HTTP Features > Default Document

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Common HTTP Features > HTTP Errors

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Common HTTP Features > Static Content

    • Internet Information Services > World Wide Web Services > Performance Features > Static Content Compression

  5. Close the Control Panel.

Installing IIS on Windows Server 2016

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Locate and click on the ‘Turn Windows Features on or off’ link.

  3. In the resulting Server Manager window, click the Features item (in the left pane), and then click the Add Features link.

  4. In the resulting Add Roles and Features Wizard, provide the necessary information and click Next on each of the first few pages.

  5. On the Select server roles page of the wizard, check [√]the Web Server (IIS) role, and click Next.

  6. In the resulting dialog that asks ‘Add features that are required for Web Server (IIS)?’, check[√] the option to ‘Include management tools (if applicable)’, and click the Add Features button.

  7. On the Select features page of the wizard, check [√]the following options (as shown in the next screen capture), and click Next.

    • .NET Framework 3.5 Features

    • .NET Framework 3.5 Features > .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

    • .NET Framework 4.6 Features > ASP.NET 4.6

    • .NET Framework 4.6 Features > WCF Services > TCP Port Sharing

  8. On the resulting Web Server Role (IIS) page of the wizard, read the displayed information, and click Next.

  9. On the resulting Select role services page of the wizard, check [√] the following options (as shown in the next screen capture), and click Next.

    • Web Server

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > Default Document

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > Directory Browsing

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > HTTP Errors

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > Static Content

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > HTTP Redirection

    • Web Server > Health and Diagnostics

    • Web Server > Health and Diagnostics > HTTP Logging

    • Web Server > Performance

    • Web Server > Performance > Static Content Compression

    • Web Server > Security

    • Web Server > Security > Request Filtering

    • Web Server > Application Development

    • Web Server > Application Development > .NET Extensibility 3.5

    • Web Server > Application Development > .NET Extensibility 4.6

    • Web Server > Application Development > ASP.NET 3.5

    • Web Server > Application Development > ASP.NET 4.6

    • Web Server > Application Development > ISAPI Extensions

    • Web Server > Application Development > ISAPI Filters

    • Management Tools

    • Management Tools > IIS Management Console

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Metabase Compatibility

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Management Console

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Scripting Tools

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 WMI Compatibility

    • Management Tools > IIS Management Scripts and Tools

  10. On the resulting Confirm installation selections page of the wizard, check [√] the option to ‘Restart the destination server automatically if required', and review the displayed information to determine whether it is correct.

    • If something is not correct, click Previous to return to the previous page and make the necessary changes.

    • If everything is correct, click Install.

      On the Installation progress page of the wizard, progress messages are displayed until the installation is complete.

  11. In the Server Manager window, verify that the Web Server (IIS) role was installed. You can then close the Server Manager window and the Control Panel.

Installing IIS on Windows Server 2019

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Locate and click on the ‘Programs and Features’ link.

  3. Once in Programs and Features window click on 'Turn Windows Features on or off' link.

  4. In the resulting Server Manager window, click the Dashboard item (in the left pane), and then click the Add roles and features link.

  5. In the resulting Add Roles and Features Wizard | Before you Begin, click Next.

  6. In the resulting Add Roles and Features Wizard | Installation Type, select Role-based or feature-based installation, click Next.

  7. In the resulting Add Roles and Features Wizard | Server Selection, select Select a server from the server pool, click Next.

  8. In the resulting Add Roles and Features Wizard | Server Roles, select Web Server (IIS).

  9. In the resulting dialog that asks ‘Add features that are required for Web Server (IIS)?’, check[√] the option to ‘Include management tools (if applicable)’, and click the Add Features button then click Next.

  10. On the Select features page of the wizard, check [√]the following options (as shown in the next screen capture), and click Next.

    • .NET Framework 3.5 Features

    • .NET Framework 3.5 Features > .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

    • .NET Framework 4.7 Features

    • .NET Framework 4.7 Features > .NET Framework 4.7 (Installed)

    • .NET Framework 4.7 Features > WCF Services > TCP Port Sharing (Installed)

  11. In the resulting Add Roles and Features Wizard | Web Server Role (IIS), read the displayed information, and click Next.

  12. On the resulting Select role services page of the wizard, check [√] the following options (as shown in the next screen capture), and click Next.

    • Web Server

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > Default Document

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > Directory Browsing

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > HTTP Errors

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > Static Content

    • Web Server > Common HTTP Features > HTTP Redirection

    • Web Server > Health and Diagnostics

    • Web Server > Health and Diagnostics > HTTP Logging

    • Web Server > Performance

    • Web Server > Performance > Static Content Compression

    • Web Server > Security

    • Web Server > Security > Request Filtering

    • Web Server > Application Development

    • Web Server > Application Development > .NET Extensibility 3.5

    • Web Server > Application Development > .NET Extensibility 4.7

    • Web Server > Application Development > ASP.NET 3.5

    • Web Server > Application Development > ASP.NET 4.7

    • Web Server > Application Development > ISAPI Extensions

    • Web Server > Application Development > ISAPI Filters

    • Management Tools

    • Management Tools > IIS Management Console

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Metabase Compatibility

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Management Console

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 Scripting Tools

    • Management Tools > IIS 6 Management Compatibility > IIS 6 WMI Compatibility

    • Management Tools > IIS Management Scripts and Tools

  13. On the resulting Confirm installation selections page of the wizard, check [√] the option to ‘Restart the destination server automatically if required’, and review the displayed information to determine whether it is correct.

    • If something is not correct, click Previous to return to the previous page and make the necessary changes.

    • If everything is correct, click Install.

  14. On the Installation progress page of the wizard, progress messages are displayed until the installation is complete.

  15. In the Server Manager window, verify that the Web Server (IIS) role was installed. You can then close the Server Manager window and the Control Panel.

Configuring the network port used by the default IIS Web site

The Velocity Web Services Client works like a typical Web page and connects to Microsoft’s IIS using the HTTP protocol. The default network port is 80, which might already be used by some other program.

If you want to use a network port other than the default of 80, you can perform the following steps to configure the network port used by the default IIS Web site to communicate with the Velocity Web Services Client.

  1. From your Windows Server Start menu (on the computer where IIS and the Velocity Server are installed), select Administrative Tools ▶Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

  2. In the Connections pane of the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager window, expand the computer name, expand Sites, and then click on Default Web Site.

  3. In the Actions pane (under Edit Site), click on Bindings.

  4. In the resulting Site Bindings dialog, click the HTTP entry, and then click on Edit.

  5. In the resulting Edit Site Bindings dialog, enter the desired value (such as 8080) for the Port, and click OK.

  6. Close the Site Bindings dialog.

  7. In the Actions pane of the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager window (under Manage Web Site), click Stop, and then click Start.

Ensuring that the Network Port used by the Default IIS Web Site is Allowed Through Your Firewalls

Because the Velocity Web Services Client communicates across a shared network (instead of a dedicated physical security network), you will have to work with your network administrator to ensure that the network port used by the default IIS Web site is allowed through your firewalls. Some networks use the software firewall provided with Microsoft Windows, other networks use a software firewall provided by a different vendor (as shown in the following image), and high-security networks include hardware firewalls.

Because the firewalls on a network can vary so much, we cannot provide a detailed procedure for your specific network.  But the following example for the Windows 7 Firewall should help illustrate the general process.

  1. Open the Windows 10 Control Panel, and click on the Windows Firewall link.

  2. Click on the Advanced settings link (in the left column).

  3. In the resulting Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window, click on Inbound Rules (in the left pane), and then click on New Rule… in the Actions pane.

  4. On the Rule Type page of the resulting New Inbound Rule Wizard, select the Port option, and then click Next.

  5. On the Protocol and Ports page, select the TCP option, select the Specific local ports option and enter the desired value (such as 8080), and then click Next.

  6. On the Action page, click Next to accept the defaults.

  7. On the Profile page, click Next to accept the defaults.

  8. On the Name page, enter the required Name, optionally enter a Description, and click Finish.
    This allows the Network Port used by the Default IIS Web Site through your Firewalls.

Quick Tour of the Velocity Web Services Client

This section of the guide provides a high-level quick tour of the functionality available in the Velocity Web Services Client.

Logging into the Velocity Web Services Client

The Login page is used to log in to this client.  Enter the Operator Name and Password of an existing Velocity operator, and click the Login button.  If either the Operator Name or the Password is incorrect, the following error message is displayed:

 

Commands on the Operator drop-down menu

After you successfully log in to the Velocity Web Services Client, there is an Operator drop-down menu (in the upper right corner) that includes commands to:

  • display an About dialog which shows version information for Velocity and the Velocity Web Services Client

     

  • open the Settings page where you can specify some options for the Velocity Web Services Client (including the “Landing Page” which is the default page displayed after you log in)

     

  • Open the Enrollment tab to set the Query Size which will determine the Enrollment Manager Search results (between 5 - 50).  The default value is 10.

  • Open the Alarms tab to view the default fields:

  • Open the Events tab to view the default fields:

  • Select the Status Dashboard to view the default fields.

     

  • Click the Security Settings tab to view and modify the available fields.

  • logout from your current session (and return to the Login page)

Enrollment Page

The Enrollment page of the Velocity Web Services Client provides the most important functionality of Velocity’s Enrollment Manager.

Alarms Page

The Alarms page of the Velocity Web Services Client provides the most important functionality of Velocity’s Alarm Viewer (including any pre-defined Instructions to the operator for a specific type of alarm and Notes entered by the operator to document their response to a specific alarm).

By default, this page also includes an Events pane which provides the most important functionality of Velocity’s Event Viewer.

Events Page

The Events page of the Velocity Web Services Client displays the events detected by Velocity as they occur throughout the monitored system.

Device Control Page

The Device Control page of the Velocity Web Services Client provides the hierarchical display of basic Velocity system components based on the operator role.

Photo Call-Up Page

The Photo Call-Up page of the Velocity Web Services Client allows the user to see the most recent badges scanned into a reader with each credential’s general information.

Reporting Page

The Reporting page of the Velocity Web Services Client provides the most important functionality of Velocity’s Report Manager.

After you click Generate Report, a progress indicator is displayed until the request has been completed.  If the report succeeds, a Report Generated dialog with an Open Report button is displayed.  When you click the button, the resulting .PDF file is opened in a new tab of the current browser window.

Status Dashboard Page

The Status Dashboard page of the Velocity Web Services Client displays information about:

  • Access Summary (Today)

  • People/Credentials

  • Live Events

  • Queued Downloads on your controllers

  • Live Events

  • Performance Status

  • Door Status

  • Status Viewer by Controllers/Ports/Xboxes

Status Bar

The status bar at the bottom of the Velocity Web Services Client shows the Status of the DIGI*TRAC Service running on the Velocity Server.

The items shown in blue are hyperlinks.  If you click on the Active Alarms link or the Ack Alarms link, the Alarms page is displayed.  If you click on the Off Normal link, the Off Normal Points dialog is displayed