On multi-protocol vs single-protocol (i.e. RMI/IIOP)
Consider this.
Let's say we have a B2B scenario, where one company (A) wants to access
a EJB-cluster of another company (B). Each company has a firewall. The
firewalls only allows traffic on port 80. In order for A to be able to
talk to B it must use a protocol that uses HTTP-tunneling. Let's say
SOAP. By doing this A can access B, even though there are a number of
firewalls in between. B, however, wants to access its EJB-cluster
internally through some cool intranet web-application. They don't want
to use SOAP, because it is not very fast. So, instead they want to use
the protocol MyProt, which their cluster supports. MyProt is a very
optimized protocol, and especially suited for cool intranet webapps.
Result:
A can access B's EJB-cluster through SOAP. B can access their own
cluster through MyProt. Both are happy.
If instead we had used RMI/IIOP only, the single-protocol alternative,
we're already in trouble as the firewalls don't allow it. A is not
happy. B, who accesses their own functionality through a web-app., can
use RMI/IIOP, but their application passes a lot of XML-trees back and
forth between the web-app and the EJB-server. IIOP doesn't handle that
particularly well, so the result is a sluggish webapp. B is not happy.
Result:
Neither A nor B are happy with the solution. "EJB sucks" they think.
Summary:
Multi-protocol: A and B are happy.
Single-protocol: A and B are unhappy.
See. That was easy :-)
This example was perhaps a bit exagerated, but definitely not unlikely.
I wouldn't be surprised if many apps use this kind of setup in the (very
near!) future. And if we then are restricted to one wire protocol, that
doesn't work in many cases, that's bad for EJB. Which is bad for You.
Any counter-arguments? I'm not an IIOP-expert (although I currently have
the book "IIOP Complete" on my desk :-), so if you want to provide a
solution to the above scenario using IIOP, please do.
regards,
Rickard
--
Rickard �berg
@home: +46 13 177937
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.dreambean.com
Question reality
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