Amazon.com Review
As a Web server, Microsoft Internet Information Server (MIIS) is a powerful platform that grows easier to use with each new version; but there is still plenty for a new system administrator to worry about. Written by a team of authors,
Special Edition Using Internet Information Server 4 is a comprehensive guide to installing, administering, and working with IIS 4. It's a good introduction for anyone who is considering a move to the Microsoft family of Web tools.
As you might expect, the text introduces infrastructure issues, what Web servers are, and what they do. The guide also explores the relationship between IIS and NT. (The two tools work closely together, of course.) Sections on installing IIS cover the basics and look at individual Web services separately, from FTP, Mail, News, and Microsoft's NetShow services to databases with SQL Server and Index Server. Sections on daily administration of IIS, including performance tuning and troubleshooting a Web server, are also good. Finally, the book introduces the new Microsoft administration tool, the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), in detail. With plenty of screen shots and a good deal of expertise, this install guide can benefit both the raw beginner and the more experienced administrator.
Not just for administrators, Using Internet Information Server 4 also has plenty of material for Web developers, with an introduction (and source code) for basic client and server-side Web technologies, including Active Server Pages (ASPs), VBScript, JavaScript, and database access through Internet Data Connector and ActiveX Data Objects. Expert programmers will want more details here, but these chapters provide a worthwhile introduction to the various solutions for providing dynamic Internet content.
Useful appendices discuss how to avoid problems with browser incompatibilities and other reference topics. Overall, this clearly written guide provides an exceptional amount of information on a popular and easy-to-use Web server platform.
From the Publisher
Explores the two major changes to Microsoft Internet Information Server Shows how to create powerful and flexible data-driven pages using Active Server Pages and ActiveX Data Objects Discusses ways to implement the newest technologies Examines how to extend IIS Web sites using Microsoft's newest Web servers
