Running SBS Console Results in IE Connection Error

• Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server Version 4.0, 4.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you choose Manage Server from the Start button, the Administrative Console may not appear and the following error is generated and presented in a Microsoft Internet Explorer dialog box:

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

CAUSE

This error can occur if the World Wide Web (WWW) Publishing Service is not started or has encountered a problem which may cause it to stop responding (hang).

RESOLUTION

If the WWW Publishing Service status is shown as running in the Control Panel Services tool or on the Internet Service Manager, cycle the service by stopping and restarting it. Otherwise, start the service if it is stopped.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in BackOffice Small Business Server version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The WWW Publishing Service is a part of Internet Information Server. This service, along with active server pages and Internet Explorer, is responsible for presenting the Web pages that make up the Administrative Console. If this service hangs or is stopped, none of the Administrative Console Web pages are available and the Administrative Console will not run.