Can I Create Multiple Web Applications for Host-Named Site Collections

Question

I would like to create 2 or 3 Separate Web Applications that will have Host-Named site Collections. Is this possible without binding additional IP addresses? Can this be scripted via PowerShell?

Answer 1

OP: Is this possible without binding additional IP addresses? Yes

OP: Can this be scripted via PowerShell? Yes

Refer to Mark Arend's excellent blog post Host Named Site Collections (HNSC) for SharePoint 2010 Architects (MSDN Blogs) under Option 3 – Identify by Host Header.

While the config is more fussy than the other options, if your requirements or platform do not allow multiple IPs then it does the trick. Mark's blog post includes full PowerShell examples. Here is quick preview of his scripts:

#Once per server node in farm
New-WebBinding -Name "Standard" -HostHeader "sitename.customer.com"

#Once for the farm
New-SPSite http://sitename.customer.com -HostHeaderWebApplication http://Standard -Name "Our Work Site" -Template "STS#1" -OwnerAlias CUSTOMER\Administrator

I have successfully implemented several farms this way.

Answer 2

They will need separate IP addresses as they have no hostname to bind to within IIS. You can use New-SPWebApplication to create the Web Applications.