What's New in Networking

What are the major changes?
The Windows Server® 2008 R2 and Windows® 7 operating systems include networking enhancements that make it easier for users to get connected and stay connected regardless of their location or type of network. These enhancements also enable IT professionals to meet the needs of their business in a secure, reliable, and flexible way.
New networking features covered in this topic include:
 DirectAccess, which enables users to access an enterprise network without the extra step of initiating a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
 VPN Reconnect, which automatically re-establishes a VPN connection as soon as Internet connectivity is restored, saving users from re-entering their credentials and re-creating the VPN connection.
 BranchCache™, which enables updated content from file and Web servers on a wide area network (WAN) to be cached on computers at a local branch office, increasing application response time and reducing WAN traffic.
 URL-based Quality of Service (QoS), which enables you to assign a priority level to traffic based on the URL from which the traffic originates.
 Mobile broadband device support, which provides a driver-based model for devices that are used to access a mobile broadband network.
 Multiple active firewall profiles, which enable the firewall rules most appropriate for each network adapter based on the network to which it is connected.
Who will be interested in these features?
The following groups might be interested in these features:
 IT managers
 System architects and administrators
 Network architects and administrators
 Security architects and administrators
 Application architects and administrators
 Web architects and administrators