Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 Resource Kit

Overview of IIS 7.0 Architecture

IIS 7.0 includes several core components that work together to process client HTTP requests. Each component has different responsibilities in the request processing, such as listening for requests made to the server, activating and managing processes, and executing requests. Figure 2-1 shows IIS 7.0 architecture and core components.

The core components shown in Figure 2-1 are as follows:

• HTTP protocol stack (HTTP.sys). HTTP.sys is the kernel mode protocol listener that listens for HTTP and HTTPS requests.

• World Wide Web Service Publishing Service (W3SVC). W3SVC is an HTTP listener adapter. It owns communication with HTTP.sys and Windows Process Activation Service and provides configuration information to HTTP.sys. ...