Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Microsoft Set To Show Off Hosting Tools, Apps

Microsoft said it will provide users with a look at several new technologies that it plans to include or support in its forthcoming Windows Server 2008 server operating system.

Microsoft this week is set to demonstrate a number of key new hosting technologies that will enable service providers to offer up some of the company's tools and applications over the Web. At the HostingCon 2007 conference in Chicago, Microsoft said it will highlight new hosting-related development tools and applications for the first time.

Among other things, Microsoft said it will provide users with a look at several new technologies -- such as integrated health management for Web services, Windows optimized PHP, and delegated administration controls -- that it plans to include or support in its forthcoming Windows Server 2008 server operating system.

On Monday, Microsoft disclosed that cPanel, a developer of Web hosting control panel software, will later this year produce a version of its product for Windows Server 2008. The company has traditionally developed hosting automation tools only for Linux and FreeBSD environments.

Microsoft is ramping up efforts to offer some of its products as hosted services -- either directly or through partners -- in an effort to keep pace with Web specialists like Google and Yahoo. Microsoft CRM, Exchange Server, and 40 applications from the Windows SharePoint Services suite are among the products the company has already made available as hosted services.

Microsoft also recently released a beta version of Internet Information Services 7.0 -- a Web server built into Windows Server 2008 that features a number of new online publishing and security technologies.

Under a so-called Go Live license, users can now deploy ISS 7.0 into production environments accessible to customers. The caveat: Microsoft says it's not responsible for any problems the beta software might cause.

Microsoft plans to release the full version of Windows Server 2008 in February.

informationweek.com