The Middleware By Jiraphat Wattanapateepgorn Jearanai Muangsuwan

Definition and Functionality of Middleware Conceptually, it is the glue that holds together the disparate systems in a distributed computing environment. Architecturally, it is a layer of the client/server architecture that resides between the client and the server, supports Multiple communication and data access protocols and interfaces, and enables run-time interactions.

Middleware Techniques A client/server computing model corresponding to each of the cooperative processing styles can be supported by one or more cooperative processing techniques. Including -RPC (A remote procedure call) -Messaging and queuing -Message queuing and -RPC versus messaging -Data management middleware - Distributed TP managers Picture 1: RPC implementation

Middleware and Emerging Standard Along with the most popular standards that are emerging to respond to the fast-growing middleware market, software vendors and IS organizations alike pay special attention to the OSF (DCE), Microsoft’s (ODBC), OLEDB and Mail API (MAPI), and CORBA. Although promising, these standards are good examples of the lack of interoperability among several middleware solutions vying for marketplace dominance. Picture 2: Possible Middleware Architecture

Major Vendor ’ s Middleware Strategies The importance and revenue potential of the middleware market is difficult to underestimate. A significant number of software vendors are competing for the market share by Offering new and improved versions of their middleware solutions on an almost daily basis. Given the number and the dynamic nature of the products, it would be an almost impossible task to list all available and emerging middleware products.

IBM - IBM has entered the middleware arena with a suite of products and strategic directions that has made a visible impact on the market. Microsoft - Microsoft offers two middleware solutions: -Vendor Independent Data base Access -The Vendor Independent Store and Forward Messaging Interface. Picture 4: IBM MultiProtocol Transport Network.

Digital- Digital Equipment Corporation is a major contributor to the OSF DCE. As such, Digital supports practically all forms of middleware. Among the more important products are the following. -Digital RPCs are a port of the DCE RPC for VMS and Ultrix. -DEC messageQ (DMQ) is a core component of Network Application Support. Others -Many other vendors are busy developing their middleware products to participate in this emerging and promising market. Example: -ezBRIDGE Transact for MQSeries -SYBASE Open Client/Open Server -PIPES Platform from Peer Logic

Middleware Benefits A complete middleware solution will provide organizations with the following benefits: - Consistent API across multiple platforms - Platform, operating system, and network protocol independence - Insulation of applications developers from the intricacies of the underlying network protocol stack - Data location and possibly structure independence - Enhanced source code portability and application interoperability - Lower development and maintenance costs - Reusability of application-to-application communication code - Improved system availability and manageability by incorporating dynamic routing.

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