Longhorn Server Technologies
Greater Control
Maintaining control of the servers on a network and, more importantly, access to the servers on a network is a fundamental priority for network administrators. To this end, Windows Server "Longhorn" contains two new areas of functionality to help administrators extend and maximize their control over access to network servers: Network Access Protection and Internet Information Services 7.0.

Network Access Protection (NAP):
A new framework that allows an IT administrator to define health requirements for the network and to restrict computers that do not meet these requirements from communicating with the network. NAP enforces administrator-defined policies that describe the health requirements for the given organization. For example, health requirements may be defined to include all updates to the operating system be installed, or having anti-virus or anti-spyware software installed and updated. In this way, network administrators can define the baseline level of protection all computers carry when connecting to the network.

Internet Information Services 7.0:
Windows Server "Longhorn" delivers a unified platform for Web publishing that integrates Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. IIS 7.0 is a major enhancement to the existing Windows Web server and plays a central role in integrating Web platform technologies. IIS 7.0 helps developers and administrators alike maximize their control over network/Internet interfaces through key functionality pillars that include delegated administration, enhanced security and a reduced attack surface area, integrated application and health management for Web services, and improved administration tools.

Higher Availability
Server availability begins with rapidly deploying new servers to meet organizational needs and continues with keeping those servers running effectively. Windows Server "Longhorn" helps organizations increase availability for their dedicated file and print servers, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers, Domain Name System (DNS) servers, and domain controllers using the new Server Core deployment option.

Server Core:
Beginning with the Beta 2 release of Windows Server "Longhorn," administrators can choose to install Windows Server with only the services required to perform the DHCP, DNS, file server, or domain controller roles. This new installation option will not install non-essential services and applications and will provide base server functionality without any extra overhead. While the Server Core installation option is a fully functioning mode of the operating system supporting one of the designate roles, it does not include the server graphic user interface (GUI). Because Server Core installations include only what is required for the designated roles, a Server Core installation will typically require less maintenance and fewer updates as there are fewer components to manage. In other words, since there are fewer programs and components installed and running on the server, there are fewer attack vectors exposed to the network, resulting in a reduced attack surface. If a security flaw or vulnerability is discovered in a component that is not installed, a patch is not required.

Greater Flexibility
As business needs change, so do the demands that organizations place on their servers. At the same time, advances in the capabilities of server technology change the ways in which organizations and end users utilize them. Windows Server "Longhorn" is designed so that you can modify your infrastructure to adapt to the changing needs of the business and still remain agile. For organizations that need domain controllers in physically less secure locations or strictly for use with line-of-business applications, Windows Server "Longhorn" offers a new configuration option: the Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC). For organizations that have remote users, Windows Server "Longhorn" adds exciting improvements and innovations to Terminal Services that facilitate seamless integration of remote and local applications on client computers, access to these same remote programs via Web browser, and a means to access remote terminals and applications across firewalls. For organizations that need to roll out several servers and PCs at the same time, Windows Deployment Services helps to quickly and easily deploy new computers to the network using image-based deployments.

Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC):
A new type of domain controller configuration in the Windows Server "Longhorn" operating system that makes it possible for organizations to easily deploy a domain controller in locations where the physical security of a domain controller cannot be guaranteed. An RODC hosts a read-only replica of the Active Directory services database for a given domain. Prior to this release, users who had to authenticate with a domain controller, but were in a branch office that could not provide adequate physical security for a domain controller, had to authenticate over a wide area network (WAN). In many cases, this was not an efficient solution. By placing a read-only Active Directory database replica closer to branch users, these users can benefit from faster logon times and more efficient access to authentication resources on the network, even in environments with inadequate physical security to deploy a traditional domain controller.

Terminal Services:
Windows Server "Longhorn" introduces new functionality in Terminal Services to connect to remote computers and applications. Terminal Services Remote Programs completely integrates applications running on a remote terminal with users' desktops such that they behave as if they were running on an individual user's local computer; users can run programs from a remote location side-by-side with their local programs. Terminal Services Web Access permits this same flexibility of remote application access via Web browser, granting an even wider variety of ways user can access and use programs running on remote terminals. And Terminal Services Gateway allows user to access remote terminals and remote terminal programs in a firewall-friendly manner.

Windows Deployment Services (WDS):
An updated and redesigned Windows Server "Longhorn" version of Remote Installation Services (RIS), WDS assists with the rapid adoption and deployment of image-based Windows operating systems. WDS allows network-based installation of Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn" to "bare metal" computers (no operating system installed), and even supports mixed environments including Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Windows Deployment Services thus provides an end-to-end solution for deployment of Windows operating systems to client and server computers and reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) and complexity of Windows Server "Longhorn" and Windows Vista deployments.