Comp2513

Web/Application Servers
Daniel L. Silver, Ph.D.

Objectives
To cover basic material on HTTP and Java
Application Servers
To introduce J2EE - a more powerful
middleware
To discuss the leading application servers
on the market

2002

Daniel L. Silver

Outline
The Apache HTTP server
Java application servers
The need for more powerful middleware
J2EE
A comparision of the leading application
servers on the market

2002

Daniel L. Silver

Evolution on the Web

Functionality

Processes App.
Servers
Transactions

Web-enabled
applicatons

Interactivity CGI Servers

Dynamic web pages

Publishing HTTP Servers

Static web pages
Time or Maturity
2002

Daniel L. Silver

The Apache HTTP Server

What is unique about the development of Apache?

See www.apache.org
What other software system shares this characteristic?

First created in 1995 by Rob McCool, NCSA

Survey says: 63% of the HTTP server market
Available for Unix, Linux, Windows (NT, 98)
Homework: Where did it get its name?

2002

Daniel L. Silver

The Apache HTTP Server

Architecture:

Modular in nature
Promotes slim and simple configurations
Modules can be compiled and loaded as needed such as
Core - core apache features required!
mod_access, mod_auth - administration of host and user group
access
mod_action, mod_cgi - Action on requested CGI script files
mod_asis - as is delivery of certain file types (e.g. *.txt)
mod-alias - Access to directories not in the apache root
mod_usretrack -User tracking via cookies

2002

Daniel L. Silver

Apache HTML Processing

Client

http://eagle.acadiau.ca/store15/index.html

Browser

Internet
Internet

Apache
HTTP Server

HTTP
admin

http/https

../store15/index.html

2002

Daniel L. Silver

Apache CGI Processing

Client

http://eagle.acadiau.ca/store15/cgi-bin/Hello.cgi

Browser

Internet
Internet

http/https

Apache
HTTP Server
mod.CGI

../store15/cgi-bin/Hello.cgi

2002

Daniel L. Silver

HTTP
admin

Unix
Op. sys.
8

Java Application Servers

Application servers were created originally to field

multiple simultaneous CGI requests, the divide and
conquer approach
Java servlets were introduced by Sun as a method
of providing the benefits of server-side processing
while taking advantage of many great Java
characteristics:

2002

Developers new the langauge

Simple to understand
There were lost of objects and methods already written
Code was portable to many different servers (JVM)
Faster than CGIs
Daniel L. Silver

Tomcat Java Servlet Processing

http://eagle.acadiau.ca/store15/servlet/FirstServlet
Client
Tomcat
admin

Browser

Internet
Internet

HTTP Server

Tomcat
Java App.
Server

Java Bean

FirstServlet.class
2002

Daniel L. Silver

10

Tomcat JSP Processing

Client

http://eagle.acadiau.ca/store15/index.jsp
E-Comm DB

Browser

Internet
Internet

Tomcat
Java App.
Server

HTTP Server

Class DB
../store15/index.jsp
2002

Store category
or product data

Java Bean

Pointer to internal .class file

for index.jsp
Daniel L. Silver

11

The E-Business Architecture

Partners, Suppliers
PM

SupCM

Employees

A new era of
Cross-Functional
Integrated
Applications
2002

KM

ERP

Stakeholders

Middleware
SellCM

CRM

Customers, Distributors
Daniel L. Silver

12

Constructing the E-Business

Architecture

A New Era of Cross-Functional Integrated

Applications

CRM = Customer Relationship Management

ERP = Enterprise Resource Planning
SupCM = Supply Chain Management
SellCM = Selling Chain Management
PM = Procurement (Operational Resource)
Management
KM = Knowledge Management (DW/Analytics)
Middleware = Integration Applications
2002

Daniel L. Silver

13

The Need for More Powerful

Middleware

More efficient use of server resources

Flexibility - ever changing products, technology,
business process
Multi-channel interfaces has forced separation of:
Customer (web) interface aspect
Enterprise (application) interface aspects

End-to-end transaction integrity required

Security a primary concern
Integration ability to integrate with other and
often older computer systems

2002

Daniel L. Silver

14

Java has Risen to the Challenge

Why Java?

Object-oriented
Platform independent
Network aware
Multi-threaded (easy to develop applications
that do two or more things at a time)
Relatively fast learning curve
Faster development times
2002

Daniel L. Silver

15

J2EE

In 1999, Sun Microsystems announced a

comprehesive Java based middleware
architecture and technolgy called Java 2
Enterprise Edition or J2EE:
Full server side Java standard development
platform
Solid backend for many wireless applications
Solid infrastructure with many commonly used
components (Java Beans think objects)

2002

Daniel L. Silver

16

J2EE

J2EE provides:
EJB Enterprse Java Beans, handle critical
tasks of E-commerce such as transactions and
DB access
JSPs Java Server Pages, brings flexibility to
user interfaces
Java Servlets provide link between user
interface and backend enterprise applications
JDBC Java Database Connectivity, standard
interface for access to relational DB

2002

Daniel L. Silver

17

Common Characteristics of
Application Servers

Connectivity to various applications and DBs on

various operating environments and hardware
Provides an integrated IDE for all aspects
Support for reusable distributed components
(CORBA, COM, EJB)
Performance management (load balancing,
caching, monitoring)
Robust and reliable software redundancy,
backup/recovery
User-friendly administrative, diagnostic tools
Strong security framework

2002

Daniel L. Silver

18

3-Tier Architectural of Modern

Web Servers
ERP
Client 1
Browser
Client 2

HTTP
TCP/IP

Server A

Internet
Internet

HTTP
Server

Browser

Server B
2002

Bank
Server

App.
Server

Database
Server

URL index.html prog2.class

prog1.cgi

Daniel L. Silver

19

The Major Application

Server Providers
BEA WebLogic (7.0) - 24% of market
IBM WebSphere (4.0) 33%
Oracle Oracle(Ias (1.0) 12%
SUN Sun ONE (was iPlanet) 8%
Macromedia ColdFusion (MX)

2002

Daniel L. Silver

20

Comparison of Major
Application Servers

Refer to class handout

BEA - WebLogic (7.0)

2002

The most widely used server on the market

Very scalable
Bridges cap between SUN Java J2EE and MS COM
Robust features, great security framework
Support for wireless mobile clients (J2ME)
Maintenance and support is managable
Number 1 with many commercial users
Daniel L. Silver

21

Comparison of Major
Application Servers

IBM WebSphere (4.0)

Java technology based full J2EE support
Sophisticated integration capabilities to COM and
CORBA systems
Scales well
Fits well with DB2 and other IBM E-Business products
Support for wireless mobile clients (J2ME)
Requires greater care and feeding
Excellent for large companies

2002

Daniel L. Silver

22

Comparison of Major
Application Servers

Oracle Oracle(Ias (1.0)

Claim to be the worlds leading wireless mobile
application server
J2EE and XML programming model that
radically simplifies development, installation
and management
Well situated for wireless web apps
Good choice for medium to large companies

2002

Daniel L. Silver

23

Comparison of Major
Application Servers

SUN Sun ONE (was iPlanet)

Excellent scaling and robustness

Automatic failover capabilities
Integrate XML parser to facilitate B2B apps
Version 6.5 promises new developer tools and
resources
SUN has been the Java leader on the Web
Always worth considering
2002

Daniel L. Silver

24

Comparison of Major
Application Servers

Macromedia ColdFusion (MX)

An easy-to-use web development environment

2002

Kawa (discontinued)
Macromedia Flash MX
Dreamweaver MX

Uses its own powerful server-side scripting language

Has moved to the Java architecture
Also will support .NET and J2EE
Great for small to medium sized companies

Daniel L. Silver

25

THE END
danny.silver@acadiau.ca

The E-Business Architecture

Partners, Suppliers
PM

SupCM

Employees

KM

ERP

Stakeholders

Middleware
SellCM

CRM

Customers, Distributors
2002

Daniel L. Silver

27

Constructing the E-Business

Architecture

CRM = Customer Relationship

Management
Marketing, Sales, Service

ERP = Enterprise Resource Planning

2002

Forecasting and Planning

Purchasing and Material Management
Inventory Management
Finished Porduct distribution
Accounting and Finance
Daniel L. Silver

28

Constructing the E-Business

Architecture

SupCM = Supply Chain Management

Market demand
Resource and capacity constraints
Real-time scheduling

SellCM = Selling Chain Management

2002

Product Customization
Pricing, Contract and Commission Management
Quote and Proposal Generation
Promotions Management
Daniel L. Silver

29

Constructing the E-Business

Architecture

PM = Procurement Management
Office Supplies, Business Travel, Entertainment,
Service contracting, IT h/w, s/w and networking

KM = Knowledge Management (DW/Analytics)

Data Warehousing
Business Analytics (data mining)
Executive Info Systems, Decision Support Systems

Middleware = Integration Applications

e.g. SAP (ERP) to SAS (KM)

2002

Daniel L. Silver

30