ArcGIS Server allows you to publish services for visualization, spatial analysis, and spatial data management. Once the services are published, several frameworks are available for accessing and using these services, including the ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Microsoft Virtual Earth.

If you are unfamiliar with ArcGIS Server services, a good place to start is the overview of services page in the ArcGIS Server Resource Center.

The following topics offer additional information on using ArcGIS Server services with Virtual Earth:

• The Services Directory and the REST API: This topic introduces Services Directory, which provides an easy way to generate URLs for referencing services.
• Creating services for the ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for the Virtual Earth: This topic discusses considerations you should make when you create services for use with Virtual Earth.
• Working with secure ArcGIS services: At times you may need to work with secure services. This topic provides information about how to properly connect to these services.
• Using the proxy page: A proxy page is necessary when your application requests exceed the limit allowed in a URL. The proxy page may also be used to protect tokens used with secure services. This topic covers how to set up the proxy page.