Learn MS .NET

During MIX09, the Web Platform Installer was mentioned in the first keynote on Wednesday, March 18. Some of the new features they mentioned were a new Web Application Gallery to install these on your server or local machine easily.

They also talked about some new extensions for IIS 7 as well.  Well they have many new features in this Beta.  I will go over them and I am testing it to see how it will do with installing some PHP applications as they are the hardest for me to get working properly on my Vista Laptop.

Web Platform Installer Download

Overview

The Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0 (Web PI) is a free tool that makes it simple to download, install and keep up-to-date with the latest components of the Microsoft Web Platform, including Internet Information Services (IIS), SQL Server Express, .NET Framework and Visual Web Developer. In addition, install popular open source ASP.NET and PHP web apps with the Web PI.

What’s New

• Administration Pack 1.0
• Advanced Logging 1.0 Beta
• Application Request Routing 2.0 Beta
• Database Manager 1.0 – RC
• Dynamic IP Restrictions 1.0 – Beta
• FTP Publishing Service 7.5
• IIS Media Services 3.0 Beta
• Windows PowerShell Snap-In 1.0
• Silverlight 3.0 Tools for Visual Studio Beta
• SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express
• WebDAV 7.5
• Web Deployment Tool 1.0 – RC

Lots of new goodies to play with and as well as configuring Sql Server 2008, PHP and installing several web applications and configuring them for you.

Well off to play with it and see how it goes.

Microsoft has released a new e-book that includes excerpts from two Microsoft Press books.

1. Introducing Windows Server 2008 by Mitch Tulloch
Take a first look at the next generation of Windows Server—with insights direct from the popular author and Microsoft MVP Mitch Tulloch and the Microsoft Windows Server team. With this insider’s introduction, you will get to preview and evaluate Windows Server 2008. You will learn how to use new features that help you improve security, performance, reliability, and operational efficiency, as well as how to automate deployment and administration.

2. Microsoft Windows PowerShell Step By Step by Ed Wilson
Learn Microsoft Windows PowerShell —one step at a time—with practical, hands-on instruction from Microsoft’s leading scripting trainer, Ed Wilson. Work at your own pace and build practical system administration skills as you learn how to use Windows PowerShell to administer Microsoft Windows®, Microsoft Exchange, and other Microsoft technologies.

Free Windows Server 2008 e-book offer and Microsoft Press newsletter to get access.