Can someone from SUN or NetDynamics please confirm or deny the
following. I don't know where it came from, but presumably
it is a newsflash thing from gartner. PLEASE tell me it is all
rumour or I am going to rip my hair out!
Kevin
(Views are solely mine, and nothing to do with my company)
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Sun-Netscape Alliance Cuts the Application Server Knot
EVENT: At a recent briefing, the Sun-Netscape Alliance described its
technology and marketing plans regarding the future of both Sun
Microsystems' NetDynamics Application Server (ND) and America Online's
Netscape Application Server (NAS).
ANALYSIS: Ever since the announcement of Sun's near-acquisition of
Netscape's enterprise software, the question of the future of ND and
NAS remained unanswered, slowing down the momentum of both
products. Although details of the future software releases remain to
be set, the Alliance has made some fundamental decisions. It will
first target the systematic market, delivering the new "Alliance
Application Server" (planned for 1Q00), including:
-The core middleware engine of NAS with
availability enhancements
-New Java2 Enterprise Edition programming model
-ND CORBA-based connectivity and legacy integration
adapters
-NAS-based C++ support
NAS technology is the cornerstone of the Alliance's systematic
platform middleware strategy. (The opportunistic platform remains
under wraps, pending plans on the Alliance's new development
platform.) Although the Alliance will maintain the current proprietary
ND and NAS APIs, ND APIs will not be further enhanced, turning into
instant legacy. With this
difficult decision, Sun begins to assert its leadership in the
Alliance. Success of the Alliance will depend on its continued ability
to make and enforce strong, and internally unifying decisions.
RECOMMENDATION: Enterprises looking for a Web application server with
advanced mainframe-grade characteristics in 1999 should consider NAS
as a viable contender. Current high-volume users of NAS should continue
to use NAS, but should closely watch the Alliance's
execution. NAS users interested in Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) should
not expect a proven product based on NAS engine until 3Q00, and should
either wait or evaluate other EJB products, including ND. Those using
ND should begin the transition toward EJB. Enterprises looking for the
leading ease-of-use application platform should, for now, consider
looking elsewhere.
SERVICES: Application Integration and Middleware Strategies, and
Internet Strategies
ANALYSTS: Yefim Natis and David Smith
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