Microsoft Ships Internet Information Server Free

Product Outperforms UNIX and Other Windows NT-Based Web Servers

Redmond, Wash. - Feb. 12, 1996 - Microsoft® Internet Information Server (IIS), Microsoft Corp.'s entry into the World Wide Web server market category, is now available free over the Internet.

Microsoft Internet Information Server, the first Web server integrated with the Windows NT™ Server network operating system, performs more than four times faster than the NetScape® Netsite server for Windows NT. It allows customers to deploy Web sites on the Internet and within corporate networks, known as intranets. Its integration with the Microsoft BackOffice™ family of products also helps enable development of a new generation of Web applications and can make thousands of existing database and messaging applications "Web-enabled" today.

IIS is available online at http://www.microsoft.com/infoserv today and will ship as a standard component of the Windows NT Server Network Value Pack.

"Customers have asked for a high-performance Web solution that is simple and provides a great development platform. And they want it as a core part of the server operating system," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the business systems division at Microsoft. "By integrating IIS into Windows NT Server, we are giving them what they want. That's why we're seeing tremendous customer and developer momentum."

Shipment of IIS is another major step in Microsoft's delivery on its comprehensive Internet strategy, outlined in December 1995.

IIS Provides the Most Powerful Web Server Available

National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL) tests show that IIS outperforms other Windows NT-based Web servers by at least 250 percent, based on industry-standard benchmark tests. Tests based on Webstone 1.1 also show that IIS is four times as fast as higher-priced UNIX® Web servers.

IIS is optimized for Windows NT Server, which provides reliability and advanced fault tolerance, as well as built-in security. IIS also includes encryption for secure communications (secure sockets layer, or SSL), giving users the ability to protect private information.

Windows NT Server enables users to choose from thousands of PC and RISC single-processor and multiprocessor servers (e.g., x86, Pentium®, Pentium Pro, Digital's Alpha AXP™, Power PC™ and MIPS®).

IIS Makes It Easy to Create and Manage a Web Site

The IIS graphical setup can install and run all Internet services in less than 10 minutes in most cases, compared with UNIX servers that can take hours to install. The ease-of-use features turn LANs into corporate intranets by allowing users to publish existing files immediately and securely. The graphical Internet Service Manager included with IIS centralizes administration from a single desktop for multiple servers and allows secure administration over the Internet. In addition, IIS includes the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser for the Windows® 3.x,
Windows® 95 and Windows NT operating systems.

IIS Enables a New Generation of Web Applications

More than 50 third-party developers have already announced plans to deliver ISAPI-based applications. Today, 5 million developers for Windows can use their existing experience, knowledge and tools to create the new generation of Web applications. While fully supporting existing standards such as CGI and Perl, IIS also includes the open Internet Server API (ISAPI) extension to the Win32® API that is up to five times faster than CGI-based applications. Both internal corporate developers and third parties are using ISAPI to provide server extensions such as customer communications, site management and business solutions such as accounting, order entry and catalog databases.

In combination with Microsoft SQL Server™, IIS lets customers build powerful interactive database-driven Web sites, with access to business information anywhere in the organization. The Internet Database Connector included with IIS is based on open industry standards, providing integration with Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access or other ODBC-compliant databases. Through Microsoft Exchange Server, IIS will tie Web-based information into corporatewide mail and messaging systems, providing seamless sharing of information and documents.

Pricing and Availability

Microsoft Internet Information Server is now available to download from the Internet at no charge (other than the cost of connect time, if any) at the Microsoft Internet Information Server Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/infoserv. IIS is also included in the Windows NT Server Network Value Pack, along with Windows NT Server and 10 client-access licenses. (Note: IIS has an unlimited license; customers do not need client access licenses to access IIS.) The Windows NT Server Network Value Pack is available for approximately $999. Customers who already use Windows NT Server can acquire IIS on disk for approximately $99. Both of these products are scheduled to be available from resellers in March.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows NT, BackOffice, Windows and Win32 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

NetScape is a trademark of NetScape Communications Corp.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd.

Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corp.

Alpha AXP is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corp.

PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines Corp.

MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies Inc.

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