"No additional configuration needs to be done and Longhorn has expanded IPSec integration," he said.

"TCP can now auto-tune packet size based on the network, and the enterprise QoS allows us to mark packets at the protocol level and prioritize traffic, for example with VoIP."

The new Windows Firewall with advanced security supports three different profiles and additional configuration options down to the IP address, computer, and user levels.

Also new is Network Access Protection (NAP) which can be used to provide a statement of health that is checked against a preconfigured policy. NAP supports DHCP, VLAN, 802.1x, and IPSec.

Windows servers have long been tethered by the requirement of a GUI, but this all changes with Longhorn's new "Server Core" architecture.