Inside IIS 7.0

I'm sure you have heard a lot about IIS 7.0 or read it from many blog posts, but nothing solid, right? Unfortunately, most of the contents especially presentation materials are under NDA :(  So, provided you are in the IIS 7 preview program or attended the recent TechEd 05, you can't really 'feel' it :)  I was lucky to be in the preview program but couldn't attend the preview labs in Redmond, coz no business justification for me to travel :( (according to my current employer). So how do you get closer to it ? 

a) IIS 7 preview program
Well, the preview program is open to web platform related MVPs including IIS and Asp.Net + partner hosting providers that work closely with Microsoft, so if you do not belong to any of these, no way you can get yourself near it.

b) Windows Vista beta
Yes, Vista! the new name for Longhorn,  the next generation of Windows client OS that is going to beta soon. From what I heard, Vista will include IIS 7.0 in it (even in beta? errr. I hope so). Who knows Microsoft might decide to change this at launch time... :)  and whether it will be a stripped down version that similar to IIS 5.1 in XP Pro, you know maybe IIS6.1 :)  Not sure how you really get an invitation for it, but you can try talk to your local MS office or your TAM.

c) Please wait....... :)
I'm not sure what else you can do to get it. Mmm....I guess there will be a Technology Adoption Program or TAP program for Windows Vista server, but then you gotto wait for this as well at least till near beta time again. And from time to time of coz, you can google IIS7 and read again. Publicly - what's available for you to download and read about IIS7 from Microsoft ? well, not many. here's couple of link that 'touch' on IIS 7. so while you are waiting, try to watch or read this first.

Scott Guthrie with More on ASP.NET 2.0

Channel 9 MSDN Videos - July 14, 2005

IIS 7: The Next Generation Web Application Server Platform