Oracle App Server upgrades include SOA, open source support |
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By Jack Loftus
19 Sep 2005 | SearchOracle.com |
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With the release of Oracle Application Server 10g Release 3, Oracle is promising to play well with others using a new "hot-pluggable" architecture that is designed to mix and match customers existing infrastructures with Oracle middleware.
This architecture allows users to capitalize on heterogeneous environments, a trend in IT where environments comprised of multiple technologies trump massive infrastructure deployments from a single vendor.
Specifically, Oracle stated the release will be certified with open source software including Spring, Apache Struts and MyFaces, Hibernate and Eclipse. The technology is also certified to interoperate with more than 128 products, including Microsoft .NET and IBM WebSphere.
"We think the trend of a heterogeneous environment is critical. Every customer we see has such an IT environment, involving multiple business apps," said Oracle vice president of Fusion middleware Rick Schultz.
Application Server 10g Release 3 will also feature an update to its enterprise service-oriented architecture (SOA) middleware platform.
SOA defines how two computing entities interact in such a way as to enable one entity to perform a unit of work on behalf of another entity. Some analyst firms, including Forrester Research Inc., have said 2005 is the year SOA technology will take off.
The Cambridge, Mass.-based research firm found that more than 70% of large enterprises, 28% of medium-sized enterprises and 22% of small to midsized businesses (SMBs) are using SOA today. When factoring in those firms expecting to adopt SOA by year's end, the numbers soar to 89%, 61% and 40%, respectively.
As part of its SOA upgrade, Application Server 10g Release 3 includes enhancements to Oracle JDeveloper and Oracle Application Development Framework, such as new usability features; comprehensive, simplified code re-factoring; support for Java 5.0 and J2EE 1.4; and a visual, declarative JavaServer Faces and Struts-based development environment with an extensive library of graphical user interface components.
Additionally, the release introduces new features in Oracle Containers for J2EE, including J2EE 1.4 compliance; Web Services facilities, including WS-I compliance and support for several Web Services standards; enhanced JMS features; and new JAAS-, Java2- and WS-SEC-based security facilities, Schultz said.
Shultz added the Oracle Application Server 10g Release 3 will also serve as the technology foundation for the Fusion Architecture, the platform for Oracle's Project Fusion initiative.
Project Fusion was once again in the headlines last week in the wake of Oracle's acquisition of CRM market leader Siebel Systems Inc. While Oracle executives dismissed concern that Siebel's CRM suite would muddy the waters of Fusion, experts expressed concern that while the plan was still workable, it was now more confusing.
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