Sun Microsystems has released the latest version of its
application server to run Java-enabled programs, the first update
to Sun's Java application server in nearly two years.
Java Application Server Platform Edition 8 is based on a fully
redesigned architecture, including implementation of the latest
Java web services standards, Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) 1.4,
making it easier to write and run web services applications written
with Java, Sun said.
Sun also said the new app server uses 55% less memory than its
Java Application Server Platform 7.
Developers can download and deploy the software for free and can
bundle it without paying a licensing fee. Documentation and access
to online support is also free, which is a way for Sun to adhere to
the latest specifications and build out the server's ability, said
Warren Shiau, senior analyst for the software research programme at
IDC.
"Sun is playing into the basic recipe [for upgrades]," Shiau
said.
Sun is already considered to be a heavyweight alongside Oracle,
BEA Systems and IBM in the application server space. While its
rivals outpaced it in the application server market in the past,
Sun is going after the market again.
"It sets Sun up to go after everything… but by giving the app
server for free, it is also looking to get install base," Shiau
said.
In other words, Sun is setting the stage to offer more than a
stack that can only sit on top of Unix systems, he added.
The announcements last week by Sun to make peace with long-time
rival Microsoft and previous revelations that it would move its
stack to sit on Linux as well, demonstrate that it is going after a
bigger picture.
"I think gradually it has come to the realisation that it has to
appeal to a larger market as well," he said. "In the past it would
have been very limited by the fact that its stack is really on a
Unix stack."
A lot of Sun's future success will also be a result of the new
strategic direction the company is taking with Windows and
Linux.
However, for Sun to really make a push forward, the incentive
for the enterprise customer to adopt the Java Enterprise System
also has to be a driving force. The JES is a suite of Java server
products that includes the app server, web server, directory server
and clustering software, and runs about $100 per employee.
"It is focusing on the application server as an instrument to
get someone else, ultimately going after its full stack," Shiau
explained. He added that Sun is also hoping to drive sales of
JES.
Sun said it planned to release a more advanced enterprise
edition of the app server platform in the second half of the year,
which will include clustering software.
Edition 8 of the application server also supports JavaServer
Faces application program interfaces. JavaServer Faces technology
simplifies building user interfaces for JavaServer applications
with reusable user interface components.
The Java System Application Server Edition 8 is now available
for Solaris 8/9, Windows 2000/XP and Red Hat Linux. Standard and
Enterprise editions of the software will be available later this
year.
Allison Taylor writes for ITWorldCanada.com