As I currently understand it, the following features will most likely make it into the final version of Longhorn Server:
Several enhancements to Active Directory
Including making AD run as a service, thus simplifying and hardening it, and the ability to make a domain controller read-only.
An upgrade to Terminal Services
Codenamed "Bear Claw," which changes the session paradigm that TS has used to date. Instead, users can access applications remotely as if they were running them locallysomething Citrix MetaFrame users are already accustomed to. This application publishing feature was originally slated for inclusion in Windows Server 2003 R2 but was pushed out to Longhorn Server in late 2004.
An extension to network quarantine features
Currently present in Windows Server 2003, to be called Network Access Protection. Recall from Chapter 11 that quarantining is only supported (right now) for remote users. In Longhorn Server, notebooks and other hard-wired computers can be prevented from connecting to the network and shunted off into a quarantine area. The extension from remote users to all users is a big boon for security, and this is one of the biggest improvements you'll see in Longhorn Server.
Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0
You'll find this new version to be modular and easily configurable, even from a text file, bringing it much closer to Apache in terms of its administrative model. Performance has also been significantly improved even over IIS 6. Version 7 will most likely position IIS as the best web server on the market for any application, assuming its security can be improved.
Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) 3.0
Will be included, although details are sketchy at this point.
Hot patching
With hot patching, all non-kernel updates can be applied without rebooting. According to Microsoft, this will reduce server reboots by up to 70 percent. Cool.
Limited user accounts (LUAs)
Prevents administrators from accidentally harming a system. Even when one logs on as an administrator, potentially detrimental actions will require one to enter one's password again as confirmation. The idea is to make people think twice before they issue commands that can hurt a machine.
A fully componentized architecture
Makes it a simple proposition to deploy servers that only include functionality that's absolutely required for a role. A core server OS component provides the very basic OS functionality and is the building block for more specific servers. So you can have a server that only supports DHCP, or just DNS, or is a very hardened Active Directory domain controller.
Improved image-based setup and deployment tools
You'll see these in the Longhorn client first.
A new roles-based management tool
Will be a mix of the current Manage Your Server and the Security Configuration Wizard.
All new versions of feature packs
Microsoft shipped these for Windows Server 2003.
