Err Msg: A Connection with the Server Could Not be Established (220173)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 5.0
This article was previously published under Q220173
We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open http://localhost or the product documentation using Internet Explorer on a computer running Internet Information Server (IIS) versions 4.0 or 5.0, one of the following error messages occurs:
Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site http://localhost/.
A connection with the server could not be established

OR

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site http://localhost/iisHelp/iis/misc/default.asp.
A connection with the server could not be established

CAUSE

The default Web site has been assigned to use a particular IP address.

This change may modify or even prevent proper access to some of the functionality that a standard IIS installation makes available through the default (All Unassigned) setting. This change may also disable additional functionality that depends on the IIS default setting.

The IIS default setting permits proper access to the default Web site through the locally predefined resolution of the host name "localhost". Whenever TCP/IP is installed, "localhost" is associated with the IP address 127.0.0.1, as defined from within the %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\HOSTS file (for Microsoft Windows NT and Microsoft Windows 2000), or the %windir%\HOSTS file (for Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98). However, changing the association to this file is not enough to permit proper access to the default Web site.

RESOLUTION

Change the default Web site to use (All Unassigned) IP addresses. To do this, perform the following steps:
  1. Start the Internet Service Manager (ISM), which loads the Internet Information Server snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
  2. Right-click the default Web site folder, and then click Properties.
  3. On the Web Site tab, click the IP Address drop-down list box, and then click (All Unassigned).
  4. Click OK.
(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.

MORE INFORMATION

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/23/2005
Keywords:KB220173
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.