---
title: "Installer Hosting Options"
slug: "installer-hosting-options"
tags: ["V8", "IIS", "Installation", "Self Hosting", "Installer Hosting", "Installer Hosting Options"]
updated: 2025-04-24T20:19:14Z
published: 2025-04-24T20:19:14Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installer Hosting Options

## Overview

Two installer options are available for web application hosting:

- [**Self-hosting**](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/installation-guide#self-hosting) - recommended for root platform installations e.g. "http://domain.com"
- [**Internet Information Services (IIS) Hosting**](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/installation-guide#:~:text=first.%20Click%20Next.-,IIS%20Hosting,-Provide%20the%20Portal) - Portal URLs requiring a Virtual Directory e.g. "http://domain.com/decisions" require IIS hosting

Local installations default to [](http://localhost/decisions,)localhost with HTTP****(Port: 80) or HTTPS****(Port: 443).

To overwrite, specify the desired **Domain Name** e.g. "example.com" and/or **Port**(s). In the absence of IIS, manually open the **Windows Firewall**port(s) on the server.

Regardless of the hosting option, it is recommended to use [SSL](/v9/docs/configuring-the-server-for-ssl-https) for added security.

---

## Self Hosting

**Self Hosted Installations** utilize a **Windows****Service**called **Decisions****Server** allowing for a quick running single application setup. This setup provides users the functionality of a full-fledged application server without having to communicate with an additional external server.

The following table provides key features and associated considerations of Self-Hosting.

| Feature | Consideration |
| --- | --- |
| Leverages Kestrel Web Hosting to host Decisions as Windows Service called Decisions Server; this allows for a faster running Web Server. | Choosing Self Hosting over IIS sacrifices some security features such as the ability to filter and limit requests, and Windows Authentication. |
| Supports both HTTPS and HTTP/2 | Does not allow [Port Sharing](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/wcf/feature-details/net-tcp-port-sharing). |
| Self Hosting allows for a simplified installation process. | Requires Windows Firewall Ports to be [opened manually](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-firewall/create-an-inbound-port-rule). |

### Self Hosted Diagram

The following diagram demonstrates the how a **Self****Hosted**Decisions environment interacts with elements such as the **Decisions Server**, **Database**, **File****Storage**, and **External****Integrations**(such as **Web**and **REST****Services**, and **External****Databases**).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/Self%20Hosted%20Environment%20.drawio%20(3)02092022(1).png)

---

## IIS Hosting

**Internet Information Services (IIS)**Hosting uses the [ASP.NET Core Hosting Bundle](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/6.0) to communicate between the Web Server and an IIS Application Pool. This installer hosting option may be configured using one of two methods:

- Automatically via the **Application****Pool******panel of the IIS Hosting option in the **Decisions****Installer**
- Manually via **IIS****Manager**. For more information, refer to [Prerequisite for IIS Hosting](https://documentation.decisions.com/v9/docs/prerequisite-for-iis-hosting).

The following chart describes considerations for each of the features provided by IIS Hosting.

| Feature | Consideration |
| --- | --- |
| Virtual Directory Support | Platforms that use Portal URLs with virtual directories e.g." domain/decisions" require IIS Hosting. |
| No Windows Service (such as Service Host Manager) | Restarting IIS Hosted v9 environments requires recycling the App Pool or an administrative level Windows command prompt to run the iisreset command with an optional /noforce parameter. |
| Port Sharing Support | Port Sharing requires a v9 IIS-hosted installation. In some environments, Port Sharing is used to allow worker processes to utilize (ie. "share") the same port(s). |

### **IIS Hosted Diagram**

The following diagram demonstrates how an IIS Hosted environment interacts with other elements such as the **IIS****Application****Pool** i.e.,****where the environment is hosted, **Database**, **File****Storage**, and **External****Integrations**such as Web and REST Services, and External Databases.

### ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/IISHostedDiagram.drawio02092022.png)

---

For further information on Installation, visit the [Decisions Forum](https://community.decisions.com/categories/InstallationSetup).