Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) version 2.0 contains many new features that facilitate deploying robust and scalable Internet and intranet applications. This section provides a summaries of new features in MTS.
Complete integration with Internet Information Server (IIS) version 4.0
MTS 2.0 is tightly integrated with IIS 4.0, creating the best platform for business applications on the Web. New features from the integration of MTS and IIS include:
Scripts in Active Server Pages can now execute within an MTS-managed transaction. This extends the benefits of MTS transaction protection to the entire Web application.
IIS Web applications can now execute within their own MTS package, providing process isolation and crash protection for Web applications.
Developers can embed commands into scripts on Active Server Pages, enabling customization of Web application response based on transaction outcome.
The MTS object context mechanism, which masks the complexity of tracking user state information from the application developer, can now track state information managed by the IIS built-in objects. This extends the simplicity of the MTS programming model to Web developers.
MTS and IIS now share common installation and a common management console, lowering the complexity of deploying and managing business applications on the Web.
Support for the XA transaction protocol, including native support for Oracle
Desktop Operating System Support
MTS 2.0 can be used with both the Windows NT version 4.0 and Windows 95 operating systems. MTS support for MicrosoftÆs desktop operating systems enables businesses to deploy stand-alone versions of their MTS applications.
Microsoft Cluster Server Support
MTS 2.0 supports Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS), which enables automatic failover of MTS packages in a cluster. Automatic failover enables high availability for MTS applications.
Support for CICS and IMS transactions via LU 6.2 Sync Level 2
MTS 2.0 enables businesses to deploy MTS applications that support CICS and IMS transactions on MVS. MTS offers full support for beta 2 or later of Cedar, the SNA Server component that provides interoperability between MTS and CICS/MVS and IMS/MVS.
Administration Enhancements
MTS 2.0 provides administration enhancements that facilitate deploying and administering MTS packages, including:
The MTS Explorer is now a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. You can manage your MTS packages in the same administrative console as other products, such as IIS. For more information about MMC and using snap-ins, see the MMC documentation.
In MTS 2.0, you can shut down individual packages in the MTS Explorer without shutting down the MTS server process. Shutting down a package terminates that applicationÆs server process.
In MTS 2.0, activation is only set at the package level. MTS no longer allows mixed activation for components in a package. In addition, you cannot run your package with the remote activation setting. Packages are either set at Server (local activation of components) or Library (client caller process activation of components).
MTS 1.0 packages containing components that are all marked in-process will be automatically upgraded to a Library package when installing MTS 2.0. MTS 1.0 packages containing components that are all marked with the local activation setting will be automatically upgraded to a Server package. MTS 1.0 packages with mixed component activation must be manually configured as a Library or Server package.
You can select and modify the properties of multiple items in the MTS Explorer at the same time.
Components can be moved between packages by dragging and dropping the component from one package to another.
Programming enhancements
MTS 2.0 has made it easier to build MTS applications with programming enhancements that include:
Along with an updated Sample Bank application, MTS now offers two new sample applications. The Tic-Tac-Toe sample application demonstrates non-transactional components managing shared state in a simple multiuser game. The administrative sample scripts show you how to use the scriptable administration objects to automate procedures in the Explorer in a Windows Scripting Host script.
Package deployment and maintenance in the MTS Explorer can be automated using the scriptable administration objects. Using any Automation-compatible language, you can automate administrative procedures such as installing a package using a simple script.
The MTS ProgrammerÆs Guide provides design and implementation guidance for creating an MTS application. Topics range from enacting business logic in components todiagnosing and debugging problems.
See Also
Road Map to the AdministratorÆs Guide, MTS Overview and Concepts