To access our step-by-step installation guides, simply click the Tutorials link in the main menu bar.
Supported Operating Systems
WinIDS is officially supported only on 64-bit (x64) architectures for the following operating systems:
Desktop: Windows 10 and 11 Professional
Server: Windows Server 2016SE, 2019SE, 2022SE and 2025SE
Choosing Your Tutorial
Winsnort.com offers six distinct tutorials based on your deployment goals. For the best experience, always start with a fresh operating system installation.
Option A: Master (Stand-Alone) System
We offer four full tutorials for a complete, standalone WinIDS installation. To choose the right one, you only need to make two decisions:
Web Server: Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) OR Apache2
Database Server: MySQL OR PostgreSQL
Option B: Slave Sensors
We offer two tutorials for deploying remote slave sensors. To choose the right one, you only need to make one decision:
Remote Database Target: Will the sensor send events to a MySQL OR PostgreSQL database?
(Note: Regardless of your choices, a multitude of necessary supporting programs will be automatically installed throughout the process.)
Getting Support
Each tutorial is paired with its own dedicated support forum.
During Installation: Click the "Get Support" button at the top of your chosen tutorial to open the correct forum. Please keep all installation-related questions in that specific thread until your system is fully functional and events are successfully reaching the WinIDS security console.
Post-Installation: Once your WinIDS deployment is verified and running, please post any general operations or troubleshooting questions in the Client Forum.
Need Help Now?
If you have questions before diving in, simply reply to this topic. This thread is actively monitored by our administrators and moderators. While we usually respond much faster, please allow up to 24 hours for a reply. Don't be surprised if our fantastic community members jump in to help you sooner!
Good luck, and happy WinSnorting!