Open a web browser on the server and type http://localhost . You should see the blue IIS 8.5 splash screen.
Ensure your local server is selected from the server pool.
Open the IIS Manager, go to Help > About Internet Information Services . It should explicitly state Version 8.5 .
This guide covers how to enable IIS 8.5 using the Server Manager, PowerShell, and how to verify your installation. How to Access IIS 8.5 on Windows Server 2012 R2
Since IIS 8.5 is a built-in feature, the "download" process is actually an activation process. Windows keeps the source files in its Side-by-Side (SxS) store, ready to be deployed whenever you need them. Method 1: Using Server Manager (GUI)
Upgrading to or installing IIS 8.5 on Windows Server 2012 R2 provides several performance boosts over older versions: