Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) provides a run-time environment executing under Windows NT, which uses the COM interface mechanism to provide a flexible application development environment. MTS is suited for creating multitier client/server and Web-based applications. MTS is based on proven transaction processing methods, but its significance transcends the domain of transaction processing monitors. It defines a simple programming model and execution environment for distributed, component-based server applications.
MTS applications are composed of ActiveX components that provide the business-application function. These components are developed as if for a single user. By installing these components to execute within the MTS environment, the server application automatically scales to support many concurrent clients with high performance and reliability. MTS is specifically designed to allow server applications to scale over a wide range of users, from single-user systems to high-volume Internet servers. MTS provides the robustness and integrity traditionally associated with high-end transaction processing systems.