A Windows Server 2008 update lets you use the RPC redirection (RDR) interface to enable or disable custom load balancing based on server name and port number

A Windows Server 2008 update is available that lets you use the remote procedure call (RPC) redirection (RDR) interface to enable or disable custom load balancing based on server name and port number.

Currently, RPC maintains a mapping from resource IDs to server names in the registry. RPC also maintains a mapping to a specific resource ID if no resource ID is specified by the calling application. This update provides more fine-grained control over resource IDs when no resource ID is specified by the calling application.

After you apply this update, the RDR interface enables applications that use RPC to set a resource ID for an incoming connection based on a custom rule, such as a mapping between a session ID and a combination of "server name plus port number."

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows Server 2008 x86 Edition (KB958178)
Download the Windows6.0-KB958178-v2-x86.msu package now.

Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB958178)
Download the Windows6.0-KB958178-v2-x64.msu package now.

Update for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems (KB958178)
Download the Windows6.0-KB958178-v2-ia64.msu package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Update information

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Hotfix replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.
  Collapse this tableExpand this table

  Version	Product	Milestone	Service branch
  6.0.6001.22xxx	Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1	SP1	LDR

• Service Pack 1 is integrated into Windows Server 2008.
• The .manifest files and the .mum files that are installed in each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008" section. These files and their associated .cat (security catalog) files are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The .cat files are signed with a Microsoft digital signature. The attributes of these security files are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

The RDR interface is useful in the following scenarios:

• Renaming Endpoint servers
  Proxy server names are usually static. However, internal server names can change based on a company's internal network. Therefore, you can use the RDR interface to reduce the possibility of clients discovering new names of internal servers.
• Nondisclosure of internal server names
  The RDR interface lets companies keep internal server names private, and it discloses only the proxy server name.
• Custom access checks, redirecting, and load balancing
  The RDR interface allows custom load balancing rules, access checks, and redirecting. However, custom load balancing may not work in Windows Server 2008 for applications that use RPC.

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: