Application Server is an expanded server role in Windows Server 2008. With completely new functionaility, the Application Server role provides an integrated environment for deploying and running custom business applications that are built with Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0. Organizations with Line of Business (LOB) applications, including legacy applications, that require Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0, Message Queuing, COM , or distributed transactions may discover that setting up a hosting environment for these applications is simpler with the new Application Server server role.
