Web Application Server Role | Introducing Microsoft Windows Server(TM) 2003

Web application server is a new server role for the Windows Server 2003 family of products. This new server role combines some key server technologies into a single entity called the application server. These technologies include the following:

IIS
ASP.NET
ASP
COM+
Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE)
Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ)

As a result of the combination of these technologies into a cohesive experience, administrators and Web application developers now have the ability to host dynamic content, such as database-driven ASP.NET applications, without the need to install any other software on the server.

The application server is configurable in two places in Windows Server 2003:

Configure Your Server application.

The Configure Your Server (CYS) application, which is a central point for configuring Windows Server 2003 roles, now contains the new Web application server role. This role replaces the existing Web server role. After this new role is installed, management of the role can be accomplished by the Manage Your Server application, which includes the new entry for the application server.
Add/Remove Components application.

The application server is also located in the Windows Add/Remove Components application as a top-level optional component. This is the new location where server applications that belong to the application server (IIS, ASP.NET, COM+, and MSMQ) can be installed and have their subcomponents configured. The Windows Add/Remove components method of configuring the application server is the route to take for more granular control over the specific subcomponents that will be installed.

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