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Description

An application server is a modern form of platform middleware. It is system software that resides between the operating system on one side, and the external resources - such as DBMS, communications and Internet services - on another side, and the users' applications on a third side.

At runtime, the application server is to act as host (or container) for the user's business logic while facilitating access and performance of the business application. The application server must perform despite the variable and competing traffic of client requests, hardware and software failures, the distributed nature of the larger-scale applications, and potential heterogeneity of the data and processing resources required to fulfill the business requirements of the applications.

The following classifications apply to standalone applications servers, not application servers that are included with a multi-tier COTS product.

Tactical

(0-2 years)

  • Apache Tomcat 6
  • Redhat JBoss
  • Macromedia ColdFusion
  • Microsoft Server 2008R2 (Server Core)
  • Oracle Application Server 11g

Strategic

(2-5 years)

  • Apache Tomcat Future Versions
  • JBoss Future Versions
  • Microsoft Server Future Versions (Server Core)
  • Oracle Application Server Future Versions

 

Retirement

(To be eliminated)

  •  None

Containment

(No new development

  • Neon Shadow
  • Other
  • WiTango Application Server
  • BEA WebLogic

Baseline

(Today)

  • Apache Tomcat
  • BEA WebLogic Server
  • WiTango Application Server
  • JBoss Application Server
  • Macromedia ColdFusion
  • Microsoft .NET Server
  • Neon Shadow
  • Oracle Application Server
  • Other 

 

 

 

Emerging

(To track)

  • SaaS 
  • Cloud Computing

 


Comments

  • Tactical and Strategic products were selected to leverage NIH's investment in products that are a proven fit for NIH's known future needs.  Leveraging baseline products in the future will minimize the operations, maintenance, support and training costs for new products.
  • Some baseline products have been designated as Containment.  These products are either not as widely or successfully deployed at NIH, or they do not provide as much functionality, value, or Total Cost of Ownership as low as the selected Tactical and Strategic products.
  • Apache Tomcat, Macromedia Cold Fusion, Oracle Application Server, Microsoft .NET Server, and JBoss are considered Tactical/Strategic only when running on any of the operating systems/platforms designated as Tactical or Strategic in the Server Platform Brick.
  • BEA WebLogic has been acquired by Oracle and is integrated into Oracle Application Server in versions after 9i.
    Apache Tomcat is somewhat limited – serves Java servlets and jsp files, does not support larger more complex J2EE/EJB objects.
  • WiTango Application Server is considered Containment because it is not widely used at NIH and doesn’t offer advantages over the products selected as Tactical/Strategic.
    Oracle currently has two Application Server offerings – The original Oracle 10i server family and the newly acquire Web Logic suite from BEA. Oracle has announced the path forward is the 11G versions based on BEA Weblogic. 

Time Table

This architecture definition approved on: December 14, 2009

The next review is scheduled in: TBD