Most administrators will find placing Server Core machines in branch offices to perform domain controller functions to be an excellent use of slightly older hardware that might otherwise be discarded. The smaller footprint of Server Core allows the operating system to do more with less system resources, and the reduced attack surface and stability make it an excellent choice for an appliance-like machine.

IIS improvements

The venerable Microsoft Web server has undergone quite a bit of revision in Longhorn Server. IIS 7 is, for the first time, fully extensible and fully componentized -- you only install what you want, so the service is lighter, more responsive and less vulnerable to attack. The administrative interface for IIS has also been completely redesigned. Key improvements include the following:

-- Newly rearchitected componentized structure. For the first time in IIS history, administrators exercise complete control over exactly what pieces of IIS are installed and running at any given time. You can run the exact services you required -- no more, no less. This is of course more secure, not to mention easier to manage and better performing.

-- Flexible extensibility model. IIS 7 allows developers to access a brand-new set of application programming interfaces (API) that can interact with the IIS core directly, making module development and customization much easier than it ever has been. Developers can even hook into the configuration, scripting, event-logging and administration areas of IIS, which opens a lot of doors for enterprising administrators and third-party software vendors to extend IIS' capabilities sooner rather than later.