Planning and Troubleshooting Middleware Implementations by Bruce Robertson Table of Contents Introduction What is Middleware? Basic client/server component mode l Basic middleware services Client/Server Connectivity Platform Transparency Network Transparency and Isolation Application and Tool Support (APIs) Language Support RDBMS Support Advanced middleware services Single System Login Enhanced Security Location Transparency Database Oriented Services Application Oriented Services Management Interaction With Other Network Services A typology of Middleware Message-oriented middleware products RPC-based middleware RPC versus Messaging: The Great Debate Database access middleware Distributed transaction processing (DTP) monitor middleware Object request broker (ORB) middleware products Database Middleware: The Details Matter The front-end tool must interface with the databa se networking middleware. The client and server middleware products must run on the operating systems needed. The middleware needs to support the network protocols you have in use. The middleware should be consistent across the network. The tool probably still needs to support the specific RDBMS being connected to. On The Web: Middleware Vendors and Products Database Access Middleware (and RDBMS Vendors) RPC-based Middleware Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM) Distributed Transaction Monitors (DTP or DOLTP) Object Request Brokers (ORB) Application Development Tools (with Middleware Components) Other Middleware Resources Sidebars Middleware: Where Client/Server Hits The Road (Network) Database Relays Microsoft's Industry Standard ODBC Client API Database Gateways RPCs versus Messaging Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Behavior Queuing, Not Store and Forward Services, Not Only APIs Diagrams [Diagram: Basic Client/Server Component Model] [Diagram: Client/Server Components-An Example] [Diagram: TCP/IP as Middleware?] [Diagram: Client/Server Component Model With Middleware] [Diagram: Client/Server Perspectives] [Diagram: Database Relay Components] [Diagram: Where ODBC Fits -- Client Only] [Diagram: Database Gateway Components] November 15, 1996 Print This Page E-mail this URL