What we know today...

January 8, 2001Computing Services2  Review of Application Components  Review of Middleware Categories  Capabilities  Recommendation or Testing Status  Technology Review  The Search Continues... Agenda

January 8, 2001Computing Services3 Definition of Middleware - July 2000 Middleware is an enabling layer of software that resides between a user of an application and that application’s information. It may provide the presentation, business logic, data access and integration services for that application.

January 8, 2001Computing Services4  Review of Application Components User Interface or Presentation Application or Business Logic Database or Information

January 8, 2001Computing Services5  Review of Middleware Categories Web Enabling Existing Applications Direct Access to Existing Data Integration of Legacy Application Logic Deploying Application Components across Architectural “Layers”

January 8, 2001Computing Services6 Web Enabling Existing Applications  Terminal Emulation over the Web  Present Screen Data Graphically  Augment Screen Data using Graphical Tools  Combine Multiple Screens into a Single Interface  Integrate Screens from Multiple Applications to form a Single Application

January 8, 2001Computing Services7

January 8, 2001Computing Services8 Pros  Easiest and simplest solution.  No changes to existing applications required.  Existing terminal network can use same applications.  Modify UI without changing host application. Web Enabling Existing Applications

January 8, 2001Computing Services9 Cons  Dependent on network connection to Host.  Changes to Host applications may force modifications to UI scripts.  Not all Enterprise Hosts are supported by the same vendor. Web Enabling Existing Applications

January 8, 2001Computing Services10 4 Recommended Vendor and Product Unisys ClearPath NX & A-Series Unisys ClearPath IX & 2200 IBM, NT, Unix Core Technology Corporation CTCBridge for Java Visual Underneath CTC Application Miner Web Enabling Existing Applications

January 8, 2001Computing Services11 4 Recommended Vendor and Product Bull 9000, Zeus, Olympus Glink for Java GWeb Web Enabling Existing Applications

January 8, 2001Computing Services12 Technology Review Web Browser End User PC Application Server Unisys ClearPath A-Series 2200 Applications Bull Applications IBM Applications NT & Unix Applications Legacy Applications Web Enabling Existing Applications CTCBridge for Java Visual Underneath CTC Application Miner Glink for Java GWeb

January 8, 2001Computing Services13 Direct Access to Existing Data  ODBC and OLE DB technology allows SQL access to non-relational mainframe data  Replicate all or portions of mainframe data to a local or remote relational database  Replicated data is maintained using transaction logs

January 8, 2001Computing Services14 Testing Data Extraction and Replication Extract DMSII data to flat files for FTP (Treasury) Replicate DMSII data to populate a database on the RDBC (Treasury) Testing ODBC Will be comparing response times against existing ODBC product, OPEN/A (State) Testing OLE DB Loading OLE DB on the Unisys A-Series host Reviewing coding comparisons Direct Access to Existing Data

January 8, 2001Computing Services15 4 Pros  Not dependent on existing application logic. ODBC / OLE DB  Widely used access for most databases. Data Replication  Security and data access rules are enforced by the host administrator down to field level.  Limited data transformation can be applied. Direct Access to Existing Data

January 8, 2001Computing Services16 4 Cons  Circumvents existing application logic. ODBC  Tends not to scale well. OLE DB  Lower level access, coding effort more extensive. Data Replication  Replication updates tied to operational updates. Direct Access to Existing Data

January 8, 2001Computing Services17 4 Vendors and Products Being Tested Unisys ClearPath NX & A-Series NT, Unix INFOAccess Direct Access to Existing Data DATABridge

January 8, 2001Computing Services18 Unisys ClearPath Technology Review - INFOAccess Direct Access to Existing Data Application Server Database End User PC INFOAccess Data Access Library INFOAccess SQL Server ODBC Application

January 8, 2001Computing Services19 Unisys ClearPath Technology Review - DataBridge Direct Access to Existing Data Audit Files Database Database Server DataBridge Client Oracle DB DataBridge Server

January 8, 2001Computing Services20 Integration of Legacy Application Logic  Messages and transactions are sent to and from applications on multiple hosts  Messages or inquiries can be synchronous or asynchronous  Provides “Two Phased Commit” technology for database updates transactions

January 8, 2001Computing Services21 Integration of Legacy Application Logic Have acquired evaluation copies of:  Transaction Manager  Host OLTP Communication Manager  Host Application Developer Working with vendors to install and configure software. Have had several presentations to SIG, more to come. Hope to demonstrate functionality by end of February

January 8, 2001Computing Services22 Pros  Use existing business logic  Real time updates applied to databases  Merge data from different hosts Integration of Legacy Application Logic

January 8, 2001Computing Services23 Cons Applications require some modifications Databases require some modifications Integration of Legacy Application Logic

January 8, 2001Computing Services24 4 Vendors and Products Being Tested Unisys ClearPath NX & A-Series IBM, NT, Unix Bull 9000, Zeus, Olympus  Tuxedo  Xedo  GTEA  Open/OLTP Integration of Legacy Application Logic

January 8, 2001Computing Services25 Technology Review - Messages Integration of Legacy Application Logic Host Application Host Services Host Services Tuxedo

January 8, 2001Computing Services26 Technology Review - Transactions Integration of Legacy Application Logic Host Application Host Services Tuxedo

January 8, 2001Computing Services27 Deploying Application Components across Architectural “Layers”  Each layer is designed to address a specific functionality  Components are designed to be compact and reusable  Components are based on Object Oriented Programming technology

January 8, 2001Computing Services28 Deploying Application Components across Layers Architecture Review - Layers Application & Business Services Application Components Component Managers Shared Services Presentation Terminal Emulation Screen Scraping HTML / ASP Java Scripting Data Management Legacy Data Legacy Applications Data Services Legacy Management Integration & Data Access Direct Data Access Host Integration Transaction Managers

January 8, 2001Computing Services29 Have acquired evaluation copies of:  Transaction Manager  Component Managers  Host Integration Manager Working with vendors to install and configure software. Will continue to involve SIG in research Hope to demonstrate functionality by end of March Deploying Application Components across Layers

January 8, 2001Computing Services30 Pros  Distribute application components across multiple hosts  Next generation of application development  Visual development toolset Deploying Application Components across Layers

January 8, 2001Computing Services31 Deploying Application Components across Layers Cons  New application development methodology  Extensive training requirements  Little in-house expertise

January 8, 2001Computing Services32 4 Vendors and Products Being Tested Unisys ClearPath NX & A-Series IBM, NT, Unix Bull 9000, Zeus, Olympus  WebLogic  eLink  OPENTI  IIS  MTS  COMTI Deploying Application Components across Layers

January 8, 2001Computing Services33 Technology Review Host Services Application Server Deploying Application Components across Layers Application Server COMTI OPENTI  IIS  MTS WebLogic eLink

January 8, 2001Computing Services34  The Search Continues... Publish presentation to MIPC Web Site. Coordinate efforts with e-Michigan Agency Continue research into Middleware implementation Continue SIG meetings Visit with Department personnel to discuss Middleware issues Jerry Morey