The IIS team has released another preview of even more additions to IIS 7.

This time its the IIS 7 admin pack which adds some UI features that enhance the administration experience beyond what you get out of the box. This is possible due to the overhaul of the IIS  configuriation system which allows UI extensibility as well control over the request processing pipeline.

The admin pack adds (quote from Carlos' blog)

Request Filtering UI - This UI exposes the configuration of the IIS runtime feature called Request Filtering.

• Configuration Editor UI - This UI provides an advanced generic configuration editor entirely driven by our configuration schema. It includes things like Script Generation, Search functionality, advanced information such as locking and much more.
• Database Manager UI - This UI allows you to manage SQL Server databases from within IIS Manager, including the ability to create tables, execute queries, add indexes, primary keys, query data, insert rows, delete rows, and much more.
• IIS Reports UI - This extensible platform exposes a set of reports including some log parser based reports, displaying things like Top URL's, Hits per User, Page Performance, and many more.
• FastCGI UI - This UI exposes the configuration for the FastCGI runtime feature.
• ASP.NET Authorization UI - This UI allows you to configure the ASP.NET authorization settings.
• ASP.NET Custom Errors UI - This UI allows you to configure the Custom errors functionality of ASP.NET

Pay particularly close attention to the Database Manager UI. Carlos' had this idea a while back and did some very cool demos with it while IIS 7 was in beta. You can manage your SQL database right in the IIS 7 UI! Sweet.

Check it out http://blogs.msdn.com/carlosag/archive/2008/03/21/IISAdminPackTP1Released.aspx

-brett

I can tell from the log files that webdav and IIS 7 is one of the hot search items.

So, here ya go! - here's an email I got at Microsoft annoucing it

---------------------------

After a year and a half of work and hundreds of hours of labor, we shipped the new WebDAV Extension for IIS 7.0 earlier today!

The new module is now available from the following URLs:

·         Microsoft WebDAV Extension for IIS 7.0 (x86)

o   http://www.iis.net/go/1621/

·         Microsoft WebDAV Extension for IIS 7.0 (x64)

o   http://www.iis.net/go/1618/

This new WebDAV module specifically targets RFC compliance, better integration into IIS, easier configuration, and more configurable security options.

The following walkthroughs have been published on the http://learn.iis.net/ web site to help people get started using the new WebDAV module:

• Getting Started:
• Installing and Configuring WebDAV on IIS 7.0
• What’s New for Microsoft and WebDAV?
• Using the WebDAV Redirector
• Advanced Administrative Features:
• How to manage WebDAV using APPCMD
• How to use custom properties with WebDAV
• How to configure WebDAV and Request Filtering
• Migrating FPSE Sites to WebDAV

As we near release for Windows Server 2008, the IIS team has released a beta of a very important tool called the Microsoft Web Deployment Tool.

How to replicate content and setting for web servers continually arises and is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive. Perhaps the second, and closely related question is how to migrate from IIS 6 to IIS 7. This tool has been in development for months but has not been widely discussed publicly so I personally and delighted that it is finally public.

Those of you who need something like this to replicate 6-6, 6-7 and 7-7 scenarios - please download and test this tool.  You can provide feedback to me or via the forums at iis.net. I'd be happy to connect your feedback to the managing PM on the IIS team.

Below is an email that circulated internally annoucing the tool with links.

Enjoy!

-brett

-----------

IIS is thrilled to announce the Technical Preview 1 release of the Microsoft Web Deployment Tool! The tool provides deployment and migration support for IIS 6.0 and 7.0. It incorporates many features that enable web server administrators to deploy, sync and migrate sites, including configuration, content, SSL certificates and other types of content associated with a Web server.

This tool can be used on Windows Server 2008 and IIS 7.0 as well as Windows Server 2003 and IIS 6.0. Please note that this is a Technical Preview release of the tool and should not be used on production servers. For a Tech Preview, only forum level support is available.  

How to Get Started

Download and read the walkthroughs: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=8100895

Download the x86 version: http://www.iis.net/downloads/default.aspx?tabid=34&g=6&i=1602

Download the x64 version: http://www.iis.net/downloads/default.aspx?tabid=34&g=6&i=1603

Web Deployment Tool forum: http://forums.iis.net/1144.aspx

Web Deployment Team blog: http://blogs.iis.net/msdeploy/

Features

The following list contains several of the features in this version:

·         Synchronization and Snapshot of IIS 6.0/IIS 7.0:

The sync operation provides administrators with a way to quickly synchronize a site or server and deploy changes to existing sites and servers. A synchronization allows you to synchronize one source with one destination. For example, you can synchronize two directory paths or two web servers. The sync can be performed with local or remote objects.

The snapshot, or archive, functionality allows administrators or developers to quickly take an archive of their web site or server for rollback, restore or backup purposes.

·         Migration from IIS 6.0:

The migrate operation provides administrators with a way to migrate sites or entire servers from IIS 6.0 to IIS 7.0, including their settings and content. A migration is essentially a way of synchronizing, filtered by migration rules. For example, when migrating from IIS 6.0 to IIS 7.0, MS Deploy will check the value of some properties and see if it is the IIS 6.0 default. If it is the default, such as the log files directory, it will instead use the value set on the IIS 7.0 server. This enables a server admin to maintain new settings on IIS 7.0 while moving sites or applications from IIS 6.0.

·         Analysis of IIS 6.0 Installed Features:

The analyze operation allows administrators to check what components are installed on the source server. In this way, they can determine if features are present that they will need in IIS 7.0 or that require more advanced setup than simply copying files. For example, ASP.NET requires more than a file copy and will need to be installed on the destination server.

·         Troubleshooting and Validation Features:

For validating an operation, the -whatif flag allows administrators to see what actions would happen when they perform an operation. This is especially useful for performing sync or migration, when they want to validate what changes will be made before performing them. For troubleshooting, the -verboseLevel flag allows administrators to get rich detail about what operations are being performed, and upon failure, the ability to diagnose the problem.

New IIS 7 Virtual Labs online! 

You can get hands on with IIS 7's new features and capabilties with these free online labs. These are IT Pro focused labs that came from the hosting roadshow and have been re-factored for online use. Enjoy!

• Installation and the Modular Architecture
• Installing ASP, ASP.NET and PHP/FastCGI Applications on IIS 7
• Using the new IIS 7 Configuration System featuring Delegated and Remote Administration 
• Troubleshooting with IIS 7 Failed Request Tracing 
• Using APPCMD with IIS 7

-Brett

BTW, RC1 of Windows Server 2008 is released. AFAIK, this is the last release before RTM.  Expect to see the official launch Feb 28th.

You can upgrade from RC1 to RTM! So if you've been avoiding Beta releases out of concern for stability, RC1 is is solid. (Actually, the server was really solid around beta 3).

Lots of new things to be excited about including an improved TCP/IP stack that should dramatically increase file transfers between Vista/Server and Server/Server. 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx

BTW, the bits for SP1 of Vista share a lot in common with server as they are same the code base. As a result, Vista benefits from a lot of work done on Server and visa vera.  In the case of IIS 7, you will also get some new features.

=brett 

https://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/server/intro.aspx  is page that is open to the general public asking for feedback about Windows Server 2008.

I really want to encourage Microsoft to do more of this kind of thing and customer to take advantage of it!

Take a moment to respond if you can.

Thanks,

Brett

CTO of Applied.net sounds off about IIS 7 in production.

" I can say with confidence that we currently run IIS7 in production with Kayako Support Suite and it is extremely efficient.  We have always suffered with the challenge of deploying multiple server platforms in order to achieve a specific functionality from a php based application. This is no longer the case thanks to IIS7.   This  also means that “hybrid” developers will finally have a unified development platform."

Really, when I talk about IIS 7 being better, I'm not just making this stuff up.

Web Host Industry Review | theWHIR Blogs : The Skinny on IIS7

This new FTP service incorporates many new features that enable web authors to publish content better than before, and offers web administrators more security and deployment options.

·         Integration with IIS 7.0: IIS 7.0 has a brand-new administration interface and configuration store, and the new FTP service is tightly integrated with this new design. The old IIS 6 metabase is gone, and a new configuration store that is based on the .NET XML-based *.config format has taken its place. In addition, IIS 7.0 has a new administration tool, and the new FTP server plugs seamlessly into that paradigm.

·         Support for new Internet standards: One of the most significant features in the new FTP server is support for FTP over SSL. The new FTP server also supports other Internet improvements such as UTF8 and IPv6.

·         Shared hosting improvements: By fully integrating into IIS 7.0, the new FTP server makes it possible to host FTP and Web content from the same site by simply adding an FTP binding to an existing Web site. In addition, the FTP server now has virtual host name support, making it possible to host multiple FTP sites on the same IP address. The new FTP server also has improved user isolation, now making it possible to isolate users through per-user virtual directories.

·         Extensibility and custom authentication: The new FTP server supports developer extensibility, making it possible for software vendors to write custom providers for FTP authentication. Microsoft is using this extensibility feature to implement two new methods for using non-Windows accounts for FTP authentication for IIS Managers and .NET Membership.

·         Improved logging support: FTP logging has been enhanced to include all FTP-related traffic, unique tracking for FTP sessions, FTP sub-statuses, additional detail fields in FTP logs, and much more.

·         New supportability features: IIS 7.0 has a new option to display detailed error messages for local users, and the FTP server supports this by providing detailed error responses when logging on locally to an FTP server. The FTP server also logs detailed information using Event Tracing for Windows (ETW), which provides additional detailed information for troubleshooting.

Additional information about new features in FTP7 is available in the "What's New for Microsoft and FTP?" topic on Microsoft's www.iis.net web site.

The following prerequisites are required to install this new version:

1. You must be using Windows Server 2008 (code name "Longhorn") Release Candidate 0 (RC0) or later.
2. Internet Information Services 7.0 must be installed.
3. If you are going to manage the new FTP server using the IIS 7.0 user interface, the administration tool will need to be installed.
4. You must install the new FTP server as an administrator.
5. IIS 7.0 supports a new shared configuration environment, which must be disabled on each server in a web farm before installing the new FTP server for each node. Note: Shared configuration can be re-enabled after the FTP server had been installed.
6. The FTP server that is shipped on the Windows Server 2008 DVD must be uninstalled before installing the new FTP server.

To help you get started using the new FTP server, the following walkthroughs have been published on the www.iis.net web site:

• Installing FTP7:
• Installing and Troubleshooting FTP7
• Working with FTP Sites:
• Creating a New FTP Site
• Add FTP publishing to an existing Web site
• Configuring Security Features:
• Configure FTP over SSL
• Configure FTP User Isolation
• Configure FTP virtual host names
• Configuring FTP Firewall Settings
• Advanced Administrative Features:
• Using FSRM Folder Quotas with FTP
• Configure IIS Manager Authentication
• Administering the New FTP Service using the IIS 7 Configuration Files

In case you missed it, RC0 released yesterday.

This is a very big milestone and IIS 7 with FastCGI and all the other goodness therein is included.

There are a few known issues posted on Mai-lan's blog at http://blogs.iis.net/mailant/archive/2007/09/24/windows-server-2008-rc0-available-now.aspx

You can find the bits at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb687945.aspx .There's even a VPC there so no excuses about not having hardware!

Why do I want you to check this out? Cause IIS 7 is not your typical version number increase release.
It is, in effect, an entirely new web server with new capabilites.

Enjoy!

- brett

I've got a new job here at Microsoft as Technical Product Manager for Hosting Solutions. One of the first things up is a GIGANTIC roadshow we're producing for hosters to get hands on with IIS7. Best part is, I get to design the labs and content! I'm really excited to be working on this. The event is sadly only 1 day long, but is jammed with hands on labs and lectures so that attendees can go back and deploy IIS7 in their environment. The lab topics are IT Pro oriented rather than developer focused so don't sign up expecting to learn how to write an ihttp module. Do signgup if you're in the hosting industry and want to know how to deploy, configure, migrate apps, and troubleshoot IIS7. Of course, we're focusing on the new features rather than "this is a website.. it is used to deliver http content.." blah blah blah. Also, I try to keep marketing spin to a minimum.  My philoosphy has always been to let the technology sell itself.

It's worldwide and registraitons are open now for hosing industry personnnel.

REGISTER HERE!

Brett

The big kahuna Bob Muglia anncounced at TechEd that the new Server Core SKU will have IIS7 on it.

This has been a frequent question I've recevied and I've meet customers that have heard all kinds of things, some correct and some incorrect. Finally, the details are out now and the Bill Staples gives a quick rundown at http://blogs.iis.net/bills/archive/2007/06/04/iis7-on-server-core.aspx. Check it out.

In a nutshell, IIS7 on server core will run native code application such as classic ASP, PHP, Perl (fastcgi is supported), ISAPI etc. It will not run .NET applications, but you can expect that to chnage (but probably  not by RTM). There won't be a UI so you will have to adminster it using APPCMD or WMI (Powershell sadly requires .NET so won't be on the SKU).

I'd like to go on record saying that Server Core is going to bigger for IIS7 than people think. It's a great hosting SKU, and is also ideal for low maintenance, special function servers.

The one point I want to make about server core that is missed a lot is that you can still take advantage of the IIS7 modular pipeline using native code http modules written in C++. In fact, in My work with customers, it was clear that the use of native code to write modules is signficantly improved. Mike Volodarsky told me it was a lot more like using managed code that was possible in W2K3 due to changes in the APIs. (http://mvolo.com/blogs/serverside/archive/2006/10/07/IIS7-modules-vs.-IIS6-ISAPI-_2300_10_3A00_-C_2B002B00_-Class_2D00_based-encapsulation-model.aspx) This means that the core server is a great, high speed, special function server that can streamlined and customized to meet customers needs. Woot!

Anyway, just want to shout about this as the lid has been on for a bit and now the news is out.

----

About the tour- I did write a post to wrap up bit got lost before I posted it when I advertnently closed the windows. I hate it when that happens. Will re-do the wrap up later.

later,

brett

So here are the dates, locations, registraion pages and speakers for the IIS7 EMEA roadshow. Some of the links might not be running yet, but this is what I have. We are putting the final touches on the presentations today and sending off Will and Rick tommorrow. Isaac and I leave the following week for Denmark and are really looking forward to it.

I know some of you may be asking "but what about <insert your country here>"? I am but a lowely speaker and my duties do not include such important tasks as choosing what locations to present at. That is evidently a complex task that falls to more capabale hands, thankfully, as I am terrible at this kind of task. Some countries do their events, others can't work with these dates, etc. etc. I can't believe that I finally get to go to Paris and I have 1 day, most of which is tied up in work! Arrrrgh. I am going to be in the city with Louvre and can't go! That is cruel and unusual punishment. Oh well. That's the price you pay sometimes to be an evangelist.

I'll be posting pictures, stories and other details as they occur.

Later.

Brett

Finally I can talk about this!

Beta 3 was just signed off and will be posted very soon to connect.microsoft.com.

There is so much coolness in IIS 7 in Beta 3 that's hard to know where to start.

We've had several customers beating up this build pretty hard, including Microsoft.com. This is a good build for the web server platform (can't speak about the rest of it cause I don't know, but from the looks of things, it's all good).

What to look for in IIS7 Beta 3:

Of course, you've heard all about the modular pipeline. Right? what! Snap out of it! This is a big deal.

Shared configuration: You can now configure multiple IIS 7 servers to share a single application host config file. Whohoo! No more metabase replication.

Remote Administration: This is coolness in action. Use https from within IIS manager to connect to another IIS manager. Since it's https, it's firewall friendly and special ports need to be open. You authenticate to the remote IIS manager using Windows users, or you can define users in the IIS manger that are stored in Administration.config (encrypted credentials of course)

Disable Anon user: So if you disable the anon user in IIS7, anon access is still allowed, but you don't use the built in IUSR account. All anon access occurs as the process identity. If you give each process a unique identity, you also give it a unique anon users when this is enabled. Add sandoxing and shared config, and you have a nice package for web farms with secure pools. 

App Pool Sandbox: This takes a while to explain, but essentially, each pool winds up with a configuration file that contains only the settings for that pool and can only be read by that pool.  In this way, an applicaiton pool cannot revert to self and read the configuration of any other pool.

Extensible UI: The UI is not just new from IIS6, it's a platform in and of itself that can be modifed and updated. Look to Carlos' blog and the downloads page on IIS.net for new extensions that are already available. http://www.iis.net/downloads/default.aspx?tabid=34&g=6&i=1328

Are you ready for this: New FTP server! released at the same time as beta 3 is a long awaited new FTP server AND yes,  it supports FTP with SSL (FTPS as I recall as opposed to SFTP). You will find this as a seperate donwload on IIS.net soon. It is not built into longhorn. When you install this puppy you will see first hand  that we aren't kidding about IIS 7 extensiblity. There will be new UI icons and configuration features. In the past, this is something that only Microsoft or a few ISVs would do (modify the UI and IIS configuration), but since the UI is a Winform app, extensiblity is built in, and the IIS 7 schema can be extended with just an XML snippet. Developers are going to be adding all kinds of newness to the IIS Manager. BTW, if you install FTP on Longhorn using the Server Manager or package manager command line, you get the old FTP server in the MMC console.

I know you asking "where can I get more info" and the answer is that papers are being uploaded to IIS.net very soon. Questions? Ask on the IIS.net forums.

I got to go, but I'm really psyched about this release. There is a lot more to talk about so stay tuned.

PS. Bill Staples just posted an annoucment to his blog. http://blogs.iis.net/bills/archive/2007/04/25/what-s-new-in-iis7-beta-3.aspx

-brett

Longhorn Beta 3 is coming very soon.

It features a solid implmentation of IIS 7 that has features you've not seen before! It will be broadly available, AND there will be a Go Live liscense available that allows you to put it into production. Production? This build is very solid and if you've been waiting for a base build to test, this is it.

Stay tuned.

-brett

(using your best commercial voice)

SEE what Powershell can do you!

THRILL at the capability of IIS's new FASTCGI support native cache!

IMAGINE the possibilities!

GET the sourcecode!

WATCH the video!

http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=256994

Join Bill Staples, Product Unit Manager for IIS 7, and Jeffrey Snover, MMC and Windows PowerShell Architect, as they discuss the new features of Windows Server “Longhorn”, IIS 7 and Windows PowerShell.  See how much easier it is to manage an IIS 7 single box or an IIS 7 web farm with Windows PowerShell

Gotta see this. It's the narrative and screen shots from Bill Staples presentation this morning on FastCGI. You'll find details there about this new preview of FASTCGI as well as info on the new IIS 7 native cache.

http://blogs.iis.net/bills/archive/2006/10/31/PHP-on-IIS.aspx