IISinformation.com

One great download that you can use with your new 2008 server is to use the Web Application Installer.

It contains the main items to install for a IIS server

http://www.microsoft.com/web/channel/products/WebApplicationInstaller.aspx

It contains:

From the 2008 PDC the IIS team has released beta 2 of the Web Deployment tool.  This is a wonderful tool to use.  If you have an existing IIS 6.0 Server that you need to migrate to IIS 7, this is a great product to try.

 http://blogs.iis.net/msdeploy/archive/2008/10/29/the-web-deployment-tool-beta-2-is-now-available.aspx

One of the great features is the ability to sync between server farms. I will be writing more about my experiences later in the week

With the release of IIS7 many people are working on how to migrate from IIS6 to IIS7. 

 The pre-release version of Microsoft Web Deployment Tool (http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/346/microsoft-web-deployment-tool/) is a grreat tool to move sites and content.

I was able to move about 20 sites by using this tool and re-create them in IIS7.  It was a very painless process. 

If you are starting to migrate sites I would recommend giving this a try

 There is a new module out for IIS 7.0  a URL rewrite module.  I have used many url rewriters in the past and cannot wait to try one that is created as a module.  IIS 7 is starting to feel a lot like apache and I have been very excited using the new features.  Here is a quick overview from Microsoft:

The Microsoft URL Rewrite Module for IIS 7.0 provides flexible rules-based rewrite engine that can be used to perform broad spectrum of URL manipulation tasks, including, but not limited to:

• Enabling user friendly and search engine friendly URL with dynamic web applications;
• Rewriting URL’s based on HTTP headers and server variables;
• Web site content handling;
• Controlling access to web site content.
  

Learn More - http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/460/using-url-rewrite-module/

Download your version today: x86 or x64  (remember these are CTP versions)

The team at iisreporter.com is working on rolling out a new version that will work with IIS7 and IIS6.  This version will allow for monitoring remote servers and multiple servers.  http://www.iisreporter.com

I am excited to start seeing IIS 7 in the wild.  The ability to customize and write applications for IIS 7 is great.  Mike Volodarsky has a great article on developing for IIS with .NET.

http://mvolo.com/blogs/serverside/archive/2007/08/15/Developing-IIS7-web-server-features-with-the-.NET-framework.aspx

I am often asked about how to remote control or use a remote windows server.  Most people know how to use Remote Desktop to connect but do not know all the features available. 

The most common question I get is how to transfer files.  Built into The Remote desktop client is the ability to map your local drives to that server.  If you select OPTIONS | Local Resources | then select (Disk Drives).  To use the mapped drives you then select My Computer on the remote box and it will show your local drives and your machine name.  NOTE: it is not the fastest transfer method, but it does work well. 

Another nifty hidden feature that goes along with the above Disk Drive mapping is the Printer mapping.  If the server has the drivers for your printer you can also print back to the host box. 

A great trick for administrators is the -Console option.  This allows you to take over the logged in user session on Server.  Example, you start a session on that remote box (transferring files, or updating windows) you then travel back to your computer and want to connect back to the started session on the server.  You can send the -console option and connect as the local user on that server.  To do this, you need to find the executable: “%SystemRoot%\system32\mstsc.exe -console”.  That little trick has saved me many hours of work.  But don’t forget you are taking over a session on that box and if you did not start it, you may make some user unhappy. 

 I hope these little tricks help.  I have never really seen much on tips or tricks on how to use Remote Desktop (terminal service).  If you know of any more please send my way.