IIS and Server 2003 Web Edition

[Marc]

Hi,

The last week I just started using C# to build an asp.net app.
Using IIS 5.1 locally is not a problem but I'm wondering what the long term
cost will be when I host my own website.
Questions:

1) What is the minimal edition of Windows Server 2003 that I have to
purchase to be able to use IIS 6.0 with at least 20 concurrent connections?

2) If the answer to 1) is Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, will I still be
able to perform some authentication in order to restrict some users from some
aspx pages? Also, do I have to purchase some CALs?

3) The docs on microsoft.com say that Windows Server 2003 Web Edition cannot
be used as a "domain controller". What does this mean? Since I plan on
hosting my own domain, do I have to purchase additional software?

TIA,
Marc

[Jani Järvinen [MVP]]

Marc,

1) What is the minimal edition of Windows Server 2003 that I have to
purchase to be able to use IIS 6.0 with at least 20 concurrent
connections?
Although this isn't a C# question per se, I'll give you the basic pointers.
The minimal edition you need is Windows Server 2003 Web Edition. It costs
around $400. It will allow you to run and host ASP.NET application and serve
your site to the public.
2) If the answer to 1) is Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, will I still be
able to perform some authentication in order to restrict some users from
some
aspx pages?
Yes, you are able to perform authentication. In fact, you can use many
authentication methods, but generally only Forms authentication is used in
public ASP.NET web applications. You can also enhance security by encrypting
your network traffic with SSL/HTTPS, if you purchase an SSL certificate for
example from VeriSign.
Also, do I have to purchase some CALs?
Most often, you don't need to purchase any CALs (Client Access Licenses),
because web users don't count as users that would need CALs. As such, a
single license of Windows Server 2003 Web Edition allows you to host as many
users as the hardware can handle. See this page for more info:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...ebedition.mspx

But remember that your ASP.NET application most probably needs a database of
some kind. Be sure to check the licensing rules of your database before you
proceed. Some databases are expensive when you use them to handle
"unlimited" connections.

Also remember that the licensing rules of Web Edition limit what you can do
with it. Basically, web sites are OK, but not other types of server roles.
3) The docs on microsoft.com say that Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
cannot
be used as a "domain controller". What does this mean? Since I plan on
hosting my own domain, do I have to purchase additional software?

Here, a domain controller means the primary computer in Windows Active
Directory (AD) domain. Although somewhat related concepts, you do not need
to worry, this limitation doesn't mean Internet domains. In fact, if I'm not
mistaken, you can use Web Edition to serve unlimited (large number, anyway)
number of Internet domains.

Hope this helps.

--
Regards,

Mr. Jani Järvinen
C# MVP
Helsinki, Finland
ja***@removethis.dystopia.fi
http://www.saunalahti.fi/janij/

[Marc]

Jani Järvinen:

Thank you for your helpful response.

Marc

"Jani Järvinen [MVP]" wrote:

Marc,

1) What is the minimal edition of Windows Server 2003 that I have to
purchase to be able to use IIS 6.0 with at least 20 concurrent
connections?

Although this isn't a C# question per se, I'll give you the basic pointers.
The minimal edition you need is Windows Server 2003 Web Edition. It costs
around $400. It will allow you to run and host ASP.NET application and serve
your site to the public.

2) If the answer to 1) is Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, will I still be
able to perform some authentication in order to restrict some users from
some
aspx pages?

Yes, you are able to perform authentication. In fact, you can use many
authentication methods, but generally only Forms authentication is used in
public ASP.NET web applications. You can also enhance security by encrypting
your network traffic with SSL/HTTPS, if you purchase an SSL certificate for
example from VeriSign.

Also, do I have to purchase some CALs?

Most often, you don't need to purchase any CALs (Client Access Licenses),
because web users don't count as users that would need CALs. As such, a
single license of Windows Server 2003 Web Edition allows you to host as many
users as the hardware can handle. See this page for more info:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...ebedition.mspx

But remember that your ASP.NET application most probably needs a database of
some kind. Be sure to check the licensing rules of your database before you
proceed. Some databases are expensive when you use them to handle
"unlimited" connections.

Also remember that the licensing rules of Web Edition limit what you can do
with it. Basically, web sites are OK, but not other types of server roles.

3) The docs on microsoft.com say that Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
cannot
be used as a "domain controller". What does this mean? Since I plan on
hosting my own domain, do I have to purchase additional software?

Here, a domain controller means the primary computer in Windows Active
Directory (AD) domain. Although somewhat related concepts, you do not need
to worry, this limitation doesn't mean Internet domains. In fact, if I'm not
mistaken, you can use Web Edition to serve unlimited (large number, anyway)
number of Internet domains.

Hope this helps.

--
Regards,

Mr. Jani Järvinen
C# MVP
Helsinki, Finland
ja***@removethis.dystopia.fi
http://www.saunalahti.fi/janij/