Technologies Offered in the Application Server
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 with SP1
When you install IIS 6.0 as an application server by using the Configure Your Server wizard, IIS, COM+, and Microsoft® .NET Framework are automatically installed. To help ensure the security of your system after a default installation, ASP.NET and FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions are installed but not enabled in a default installation; the wizard gives you the option of enabling these services.
Table 3.1 describes the technologies included in the IIS 6.0 application server role, noting which are installed and enabled by default when you use the Configure Your Server wizard to install an application server role on a computer running Windows Server 2003.
Table 3.1 Technologies That Make Up the Application Server Role
| Technology | Enabled by Default |
|---|---|
Internet Information Services (IIS). Gives you a full-featured Web server that provides the infrastructure for .NET and existing Web applications and Web services. IIS 6.0 is optimized to run Web applications and XML Web services in a hosting environment. |
Yes |
COM+ for remote transactions. Provides an extension to COM. COM+ builds on COMs integrated services and features, making it easier for developers to create and use software components in any language by using any tool. |
Yes |
Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC) for remote access. Coordinates COM+ transactions across multiple computers. |
Yes |
ASP.NET. Offers a unified Web development platform that provides the services necessary for developers to build enterprise-class Web applications.1 |
|
FrontPage Server Extensions. Enables users on a client computer to publish and administer Web sites on a server remotely over a network.1 |
1 To ensure a more secure server during default installations, ASP.NET and FrontPage Server Extensions are automatically installed but in a disabled state. You must enable each of these technologies before you can use them. You can optionally enable either ASP.NET or FrontPage Server Extensions (or both) when using the Configure Your Server wizard by selecting the appropriate check box.
Important
The version of ASP.NET that is included with Windows Server 2003 is not available in the Microsoft® Windows XP 64-Bit Edition and the 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003. For more information, see Features unavailable on 64-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 family in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003.
If you are unsure whether you need either of the optional technologies, you can install IIS by using the default installation, which installs them in a disabled state, and then enable the optional technologies when you need them by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel. For more information about installing IIS 6.0 by using Control Panel, see Installing IIS.
As with every functionality that you enable on your server, use caution and take appropriate steps to secure each new technology that you add. For more information about securing your application server, see Managing a Secure IIS 6.0 Solution.