↓ Downloads: Zune iPod WMV WMV(High)

We headed up to Tech·ed 07 which was held in Orlando FL to speak with Microsoft's Mario Juarez and Eric Woersching about our hosting experience with IIS7 and Server core. Mario said that I was a real "natural" on the camera but when I saw this video it made it clear that this was not the case.

Bottom line on Server Core. 

This is a new feature on Windows Server 2008 where the OS has been tremendously scaled down.  To give you an idea all of the administration is done via CLI. Since it has  a reduced footprint it delivers better overall performance of the desired service role this server will have on your network. Additionally, you can lower your TCO as Server Core may allow you to use legacy or less powerful hardware.

Although server core does not yet support the ASP.net Framework it does offer significant potential for other services.

Here is the skinny on IIS7.

Microsoft has decided to move away from the monolithic model and take on a modular architectural approach with IIS7.

This new version of Internet Information Services has been completely rewritten from the ground up and offers tons of new features.

Here are 2 upcoming features that hosters and developers will not want to go on without:

1. Error Reporting- No longer is IIS a "black box" where requests go in and maybe come out. You now have the ability to run a trace against your application should it throw an internal 500 server error or should just decide to hang.

These error conditions can be defined by a user and do not need administrative privileges on the environment in order to be modified.

Click here to lean more about Automatic Failed Request Trace Logging.

*this is only 1 of the 40 modules that IIS7 comes with out of the box!

2. Portability

I would say that this is hoster and developer nirvana. When it's time to migrate an application this feature alleviates many problems that cause downtime and frustrations.

All the IIS7 capabilities are controlled via XML stored on your app's web.config.

With IIS7 there is no need to spend time configuring a server prior to migration.

The real beauty is that those of you who still want the GUI control feel may still use the Management Console and IIS7 is intelligent enough to read or write any changes you make or have made to your  site wether via XML or the GUI!!!

Stay tuned for an upcoming post I have been working on that is more feature descriptive on what IIS7 brings to the table:

1. Security.
2. Extensibility.
3. Delegation.
4. Secure FTP (YES!!! FINALLY!!!!).

From Left to Right-- Mario Juarez, Jess Coburn, Eric Woersching, Carlos Caneja @ Teched '07