This book explains how you can use Microsoft Internet Information Server in the real world - with special emphasis on using the Internet Information Server to publish information on the World Wide Web. Designed for network administrators, super-visors and upper-management staff, the text covers the concepts required for connecting your network the Internet using Windows NT.

The book highlights some of the more arcane aspects of the Internet and includes plenty of information on daily maintenance, troubleshooting and problem solving.

The preparation for connecting to the World Wide Web sets off with an introduction to the Internet Information Server (IIS) and an overview of Windows NT, including all the necessary configuration procedures to have the IIS up and running successfully. Web site administration is covered together with the use of DHCP, WINS and security issues.

The crucial aspect of presentation is elaborated with a presentation of the widely available tools that can help you to create an impressive web site, including 3D tools, use of Java, CGI, VBScript and dynamic content generation via Active Server Pages. Multimedia streaming with NetShow Live is briefly discussed.

The final part of the book is dedicated to the interfacing of Internet Information Server with ODBC databases, the facilities and benefits offered by building dynamic web sites with Microsoft SQL Server and the use of the Crystal Reports report-generator. Indexing of the web site is covered with the use of Index Information Server.

For those who want to fine-tune their Internet Information Server setup, this book offers some good advice. The accompanying CD-ROM contains numerous utilities that can be deployed to increase the feasibility of a Web site. If you did not understand the whole potential behind Microsoft's Internet Inform-ation Server, then read this book and place it next to your NT manuals. Otherwise, stick to the NT text.