Enterprise Application Integration with CORBA : Component and Web-Based Solutions

by Ron Zahavi

• ISBN13: 9780471327202
• ISBN10: 0471327204
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

"This book...gives EAI architects and developers the opportunity to learn directly from the authority on distributed computing, EAI, and CORBA." -David S. Linthicum Chief Technology Officer, SAGA Software, Inc. In this book a CORBA pioneer provides proven, cost-effective techniques for integrating enterprise applications (including legacy applications) into modern, multiplatform systems. He also offers valuable advice and guidance on how to build new CORBA-based applications using the latest features of CORBA 3 . With the help of numerous case studies and examples, he provides detailed solutions for specific integration problems along with step-by-step guidance on: * Using CORBA as the infrastructure for EAI * Architecture principles for integrating the Web and back-end systems * CORBA Component Model for component-based development * Relationship of CORBA components to DCOM, JavaBeans, and Enterprise JavaBeans * Using the essential CORBA services * Object wrapping techniques for integrating legacy applications into multi-platform systems * Building secure, multiplatform Web applications On the companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/zahavi/ you'll find: * Articles on related topics * Continually maintained ORB and integration server, vendor, and product comparisons * A dynamic discussion group on architectural best practices

Author Biography

RON ZAHAVI is Vice President of the EAI Frameworks Solutions practice at Concept Five Technologies, Inc. This group of integration technology experts and architects supports the development of online solutions using distributed objects, messaging, Java, and the Web. He coauthored, with Tom Mowbray, the international bestseller The Essential CORBA. He is currently serving on the OMG Architecture Board.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xxi
Preface	xxv
Acknowledgments	xxvii
About the Contributors	xxix
John Marsh	xxix
Mindy Rudell	xxix
Bill Swift	xxx
John Tisaranni	xxx
Introduction	xxxi
The State of CORBA	xxxiv
Distributed Object Integration: The Early Days	xxxvi
An Early User View of CORBA	xxxvii
Custom versus Horizontal Frameworks	xxxix
Guidelines for Migration	xli
Distributed Object Technologies Today	xliii
The User, Integrator, and Vendor Views	xliii
Technology Confusion	xlvii
Building Systems Using Services and Components	xlviii
The Role of Integration	l
The Role of Architecture	liii
Enterprise Architecture and Integration	liv
Deploying an Object-Based Web System	lv
How This Book Is Organized	lvii
Who Should Read This Book	lix
Tools You Will Need	lx
What's on the Web Site	lx
Summary	lxi
Part One Integration Fundamentals	1	(100)
Systems and Application Integration	5	(40)
Navigating the Landscape	6	(6)
What Is Needed to Get Started?	6	(5)
What Is the Desired Solution?	11	(1)
Architectural Choices	12	(5)
Two-Tier Client/Server Access	12	(1)
Three-Tier Client/Server Access	13	(1)
Distributed Object Infrastructure	13	(2)
Direct Legacy-to-Web Screen Access	15	(1)
Direct Database-to-Web Access	15	(1)
Custom Development Application Servers	16	(1)
Types of Integration	17	(8)
Systems Integration	19	(1)
Network Integration	19	(1)
Application Integration	20	(3)
Information Integration	23	(2)
Enterprise Application Integration	25	(1)
Integration Includes Both Environment and Process	25	(15)
The Integration Environment	26	(8)
The Integration Process	34	(6)
Project Structure	40	(4)
Skills	41	(1)
Team Structure	42	(1)
Run-Ahead Teams	43	(1)
Summary	44	(1)
Architecting an Integrated System	45	(32)
Types of Architecture	46	(7)
Thin Clients versus Thick Clients, Thin Apps versus Thick Apps	53	(2)
Two-Tier Architectures	55	(1)
Three-Tier Architectures	56	(1)
N-Tier Architectures	57	(2)
Related Architectural Frameworks	59	(7)
Object Management Architecture	59	(1)
Windows Distributed inter Net Architecture (DNA)	60	(1)
The Open Group Architectural Framework	61	(2)
RM-ODP	63	(2)
Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management (TAFIM)	65	(1)
Which Architecture Is Right for You?	66	(5)
Custom and Vertical Architectures versus Generic Architectures	67	(1)
Service-Oriented versus Instance-Oriented Architectures	68	(1)
Methods for Cross-Technology Interworking	69	(2)
Message-Based Systems	71	(1)
Protecting Your Architecture from Platform and Vendor Dependencies	71	(4)
Platform Dependencies	72	(1)
Vendor Dependencies	72	(1)
Isolation Layers	73	(1)
Common Development Frameworks	74	(1)
An Interceptor-Based Approach	75	(1)
Summary	76	(1)
Architecture Design Principles	77	(24)
Architectural Foundation	78	(2)
Layering and Abstraction	78	(1)
Reuse	78	(1)
Interoperability	79	(1)
Frameworks and Patterns	79	(1)
Assumptions	80	(1)
Basic Features	80	(4)
Security	80	(1)
Persistence	81	(1)
Life Cycle	81	(1)
Naming Strategy	82	(1)
Object Identity	83	(1)
Events	84	(1)
Advanced Features	84	(3)
Metadata	84	(1)
Data Formats	85	(1)
Batch versus Transactions	86	(1)
Internationalization	86	(1)
Management	87	(2)
Maintainability	87	(1)
Versioning	87	(1)
Debugability and Testability	88	(1)
Configuration	89	(1)
Robustness	89	(3)
Scalability	89	(1)
Reliability	90	(1)
Availability	90	(1)
Fault Tolerance	91	(1)
Restart and Recovery	91	(1)
Performance	92	(2)
Throughput	92	(1)
Multithreading	92	(1)
Dispatching and Load Balancing	93	(1)
Caching/Smart Proxies	94	(1)
Component Relationships	94	(3)
Interfaces	94	(1)
User Interfaces	95	(1)
Inheritance and Aggregation	95	(1)
Sequencing and Control	96	(1)
Time	96	(1)
External Factors	97	(2)
Standards	97	(1)
Protocols	98	(1)
Connectivity	98	(1)
COTS	98	(1)
External Constraints	99	(1)
Organizational Constraints	99	(1)
Summary	99	(2)
Part Two Integration Technologies for the Enterprise	101	(254)
Applying the OMA	105	(28)
How the OMA Relates to Your System	106	(8)
CORBA as the Solution across Heterogeneous Platforms	110	(1)
CORBA as the Solution for Back-End Enterprise Legacy Integration	111	(1)
CORBA as the Solution to Multitier Integration	112	(2)
Using CORBAservices and CORBAfacilities	114	(5)
CORBAservices	115	(1)
Which Service Is for You?	115	(2)
Other Key Platform Standards	117	(2)
What's New with CORBA 3	119	(7)
Distributed Components	120	(2)
Java and Internet Integration	122	(1)
Quality of Service	123	(3)
Domain Facilities	126	(5)
CORBAmed	127	(1)
Telecommunication Domain Task Force	128	(1)
Financial Domain Task Force	128	(1)
Manufacturing Domain Task Force	129	(1)
Electronic Commerce Task Force	130	(1)
Life Sciences Research Domain Task Force	130	(1)
Business Objects and the Business Objects Initiative	130	(1)
Special Interest Groups	131	(1)
C4I DSIG	131	(1)
Internet PSIG	131	(1)
Security SIG	131	(1)
EAI Special Interest Group	132	(1)
Summary	132	(1)
Essential CORBA Services: Part One	133	(50)
Object Naming Service	134	(10)
Background	134	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	135	(1)
Using the Naming Service	135	(4)
Architectural Issues	139	(4)
Relationship to Other Standards	143	(1)
Trading Service	144	(9)
Background	145	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	145	(1)
Using the Trading Service	145	(7)
Architectural Issues	152	(1)
Relationship to Other Standards	153	(1)
Event Service and Notification	153	(8)
Background	154	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	155	(1)
Using Events and Notification	156	(5)
Relationship to Other Standards	161	(1)
Persistence	161	(9)
Background	161	(2)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	163	(1)
Using Persistence	164	(4)
Relationship to Other Standards	168	(2)
Transaction Service	170	(12)
Background	170	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	171	(2)
Using the Object Transaction Service	173	(4)
Architectural Issues	177	(2)
Nested Transactions	179	(1)
Interoperability	179	(1)
Relationship to Other Standards	180	(2)
Summary	182	(1)
Essential CORBA Services: Part Two	183	(38)
Lifecycle	183	(7)
Background	184	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	185	(1)
Using the Lifecycle Service	185	(4)
Relationship to Other Standards	189	(1)
Externalization	190	(7)
Background	190	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	191	(1)
Using the Externalization Service	191	(4)
Architectural Issues	195	(1)
Relationship to Other Standards	196	(1)
Systems Management	197	(7)
Background	197	(1)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	198	(1)
Usage and Architectural Issues	198	(5)
Relationship to Other Services	203	(1)
Relationship	204	(7)
Background	204	(2)
Status, Market Support, and Availability	206	(1)
The Mechanics of Object Relationships	207	(1)
Architectural Issues	208	(2)
Relationship to Other Services	210	(1)
Frameworks for Ease of Use	211	(4)
Keeping It Simple with a Service Access Layer	211	(3)
Portability	214	(1)
Case Study: EBOF	215	(5)
Current OMG Work	219	(1)
Conclusions	219	(1)
Summary	220	(1)
Implementing a CORBA-Based Web Architecture	221	(54)
Benefits of Web Delivery	222	(1)
Understanding Internet Standards and Technologies	222	(3)
First-Generation Technologies	225	(9)
Universal Resource Identifier	226	(1)
HyperText Transfer Protocol	227	(1)
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions	228	(1)
Common Gateway Interface	228	(1)
HyperText Markup Language	229	(1)
First-Generation Architectures	230	(4)
Second-Generation Technologies	234	(16)
Discovery	234	(1)
Interactivity	235	(1)
Standard Content Extension	236	(7)
Scripting Languages	243	(1)
Performance Enhancements	244	(2)
Legacy Systems Integration	246	(1)
Second-Generation Architectures	247	(3)
The Next Generation of Object Web	250	(10)
eXtensible Markup Language	251	(3)
Document Object Model	254	(1)
Resource Description Framework	255	(2)
HTTP Next Generation	257	(1)
Highly Networked Small Devices	258	(1)
Next-Generation Architectures	259	(1)
Related Standards Bodies	260	(2)
Internet Engineering Task Force	260	(1)
World Wide Web Consortium	261	(1)
OMG's Internet Platform SIG	261	(1)
Sun Microsystems' JavaSoft Division	261	(1)
Case Study: A Simple Web/CORBA Gateway	262	(3)
Solution/Architecture	263	(1)
Architectural Issues	264	(1)
Conclusion	264	(1)
Case Study: Distributed Object Systems at CNN Interactive	265	(8)
Software Development Needs	265	(1)
Software Development Goals	266	(1)
The Distributed Publishing Architecture	267	(4)
CORBA-Based Services on the CNN Web Site	271	(2)
Case Study Summary	273	(1)
Summary	273	(2)
Integrating the Enterprise with Distributed Object Components	275	(38)
What Is a Component?	276	(1)
Front-End and Back-End Components	277	(1)
Component Capabilities	277	(5)
Introspection	277	(1)
Properties	278	(1)
Events	279	(1)
Scripting	280	(1)
Support for Complex Interactions	281	(1)
Which Component Technology Is Right for You?	282	(23)
JavaBeans and Infobus	283	(2)
Enterprise JavaBeans	285	(1)
COM, DCOM, and Active X	286	(2)
COM+	288	(1)
CORBA and CORBAcomponents	289	(3)
Component Architecture Choices	292	(4)
Picking a Model	296	(3)
Component Protocol Interoperability	299	(6)
Case Study: An Architectural Approach to Integration across Component Models	305	(5)
Background	305	(2)
Architecture	307	(1)
Issues	308	(2)
Case Study Summary	310	(1)
Summary	310	(3)
Securing the Enterprise	313	(42)
Enterprise Security Needs	314	(16)
Internet versus Intranets and Extranets	315	(3)
Key Security Goals	318	(1)
Basic Security Requirements	318	(1)
Taking an Enterprisewide View	319	(2)
Risk Management	321	(2)
Distributed Systems and Distributed Security	323	(4)
Distributed Systems Security Technologies	327	(3)
CORBA Security for the Infrastructure	330	(18)
OMG CORBA Security Service Specification	330	(2)
CORBA Security Concepts	332	(1)
Levels of Security Service	333	(1)
CORBA Security Integration Configuration	334	(2)
Defining CORBA Security Policies	336	(4)
CORBA Security Functions	340	(8)
Case Study: Building CORBA Security	348	(5)
Security Policy Domains	348	(1)
CORBA Security Interoperability Approach	349	(1)
Case Study Summary	350	(3)
Summary	353	(2)
Part Three Integration in Practice	355	(106)
Integrating the Legacy	357	(46)
Legacy Integration Approaches	358	(1)
Rehosting	358	(1)
Rewriting	358	(1)
Reusing	359	(1)
Methods of Wrapping	359	(6)
Custom Interfaces, Custom Data Types	361	(1)
Generic Interfaces, Generic Data Types	362	(1)
Custom Interfaces, Generic Data Types	363	(1)
Generic Interfaces, Custom Data Types	364	(1)
Wrapping the Mainframe	365	(14)
Mainframe Integration Approaches	366	(1)
How CORBA and Distributed Objects Fit In	367	(1)
Architectural Approach	368	(1)
Batch/File-Oriented Legacy Access Approach	369	(4)
Interactive Legacy Access Approach	373	(2)
Dealing with Data Conversion	375	(3)
Security	378	(1)
Component Reuse	379	(1)
Enterprise Needs and Messaging	379	(6)
Message-Oriented Middleware	380	(2)
ORB/Messaging Interoperability	382	(3)
Vendor Approaches to Legacy Integration	385	(5)
Application Servers	385	(3)
Message Brokers	388	(1)
Packaged Applications	389	(1)
EAI Integration Servers	389	(1)
Case Study: Legacy Integration Framework Evolution	390	(11)
DISCUS	391	(5)
Applying the Concepts to an Engineering Environment	396	(1)
Evolution into a Commercial Capability	397	(3)
The Relationship to EAI	400	(1)
Summary	401	(2)
EAI and CORBA: Lessons Learned	403	(58)
Single View of the Customer	404	(1)
Approaches to Integration	404	(14)
What and How Much to Distribute	405	(1)
Operations versus Attributes	406	(1)
Number of Objects and Their Interactions	406	(1)
Passing Data versus Object References	407	(1)
Generic versus Custom Interfaces	408	(10)
Interoperability	418	(21)
Naming	419	(1)
The Need for Semantic Information	420	(7)
Transactions	427	(4)
Security Interoperability	431	(7)
Selecting a Client-Side Technology	438	(1)
CORBA: Performance, Complexity, and Scalability	439	(8)
Performance Issues	439	(3)
Making CORBA Simpler	442	(3)
Scalability and Robustness	445	(1)
CORBA Is Evolving Successfully	446	(1)
EAI and Organizational Realities	447	(6)
Organizational Politics Impact on Architecture	447	(2)
How to Get Buy-In	449	(1)
Ensuring ROI	450	(1)
Impact of the Web	451	(1)
Impact of Standards	452	(1)
Don't Forget the Customer	452	(1)
Case Study: Data Object Manager at a Bank	453	(4)
Background	453	(1)
Architecture of the Solution	454	(2)
Technical Issues	456	(1)
Lessons Learned	456	(1)
Case Study Summary	457	(1)
CORBA and EAI: The Final Word	457	(4)
Appendix A References	461	(6)
Additional References	466	(1)
Appendix B Glossary of Acronyms	467	(10)
Index	477