IBM has released a software tool called WebSphere
Extended Deployment (XD)version 6.0, to help enterprise users
optimise their applications, business processes and data flow
through the use of grid computing.
The software, an add-on for WebSphere Application Server Network
Deployment V5.1, is designed to boost the user's operational
efficiency. The software would suit organisations that experience
spikes in traffic, an IBM spokeswoman said.
The new product uses the concepts of grid and autonomic
computing - a notion inspired by self-regulating biological systems
- where software is used to make IT systems predict and anticipate
hardware, software and business needs and respond
automatically.
It offers scale on demand, designed to accommodate fluctuations
in business demands by virtualising WebSphere application
resources. It also uses policies based upon defined business goals
to support application availability and performance.
WebSphere XD works with an existing IT infrastructure, and
supports mixed workload and server types. It prioritises traffic
flow throughout an organisation, based on business needs, by
automatically adjusting existing software applications and
hardware, said IBM.
Sandy Carter, vice president of WebSphere strategy, channels and
marketing at IBM, said, "We recognise that not every business
process must happen simultaneously, which is why WebSphere XD helps
prioritise IT transactions based on business needs while maximising
existing resources and investments."
The package integrates with IBM's WebSphere Application Server
and the WebSphere platform.
WebSphere XD V6.0 is available now via electronic delivery, and
will be available widely from 30 August.
Fourteen organisations beta-tested the software, including the
University of Florida, a number of financial organisations, banks
and retailers, said IBM.
WebSphere XD Version 6.0
WebSphere XD v6.0 is based on IBM's WebSphere 6.0.2 platform and
comes with the following capabilities:
- Suitable for building advanced OLTP applications
- Designed to manage virtualised J2EE environments
- Batch-processing support for J2EE applications
- Mixed batch/online workloads support in a virtualised
environment
- WebSphere 6.0 High Availability Manager - technology to provide
a system with no single point of failure, and rapid recovery in
case of failure
- HTTP flow control and throttling for third party application
servers
- Grid-based standalone caching infrastructure - ObjectGrid
- Minor improvements in visualisation and the Partition
Facility
- XD now supports many common application upgrade patterns, and
multiple versions of common applications.