Middleware Tools Software Companies

What is Middleware?

Most organizations use a wide variety of applications for smooth functioning of their businesses that includes homogenous as well heterogeneous systems. Heterogeneous systems run on different platforms, use different technologies or sometimes even run on a different network architecture altogether. The essential role of Middleware is to provide a simple environment to manage complex, heterogeneous and distributed infrastructures. Middleware Software can be defined as a layer that is placed above an Operating System (OS) or networking software and below the application tier. In a distributed environment it can be a nightmare to deal with different protocols and interfaces. Middleware is a technology that is used to transfer information from one program to one or more other programs in a distributed environment and making it independent from the communication protocols, OS and hardware used. Some of the common Middleware examples include telecommunication softwares, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) tools and transaction monitors.

The success of Middleware technologies has naturally attracted organizations to deploy it in some of the most demanding and diverse areas like multimedia, mobile networking, handheld devices and embedded systems and so on.

Middleware can be broadly classified into following major categories based on the communication approach adopted during interaction between two systems:

• Transaction Processing Monitor (TP): Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) application uses Middleware consisting of Transaction Processing (TP) Monitors, also known as Transactional Middleware (TM). Transaction Processing Monitor coordinates request between clients and servers. This Middleware architecture is surely more scalable than a two tier structure and also supports load balancing. TP monitors work perfectly in an environment where transactions need to be synchronized over multiple databases.
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC): RPC is a call sent from one program to another program. Remote Procedure Calls are used to execute program logics on remote systems distributes across network e.g. network printers. RPCs could be used with simple applications where point to point communication is required.  It is available on most of the operating systems and has an easy programing interface.
• Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM): Message Oriented Middleware (MOM), also known as message servers, is a middleware that uses intelligent messages to facilitate communication between distributed systems. It sends these messages to recipient programs that interprets these messages and takes appropriate action.

There can be two types of Message-Oriented Middleware:

Message Queuing: Messages do not interact with receiver in synchronous mode. Every message gets stored in a queue and then subsequently delivered to the receiver.

Message Passing: Direct Communication with receiver. It works on publish-subscription based model where client subscribes a particular action and receives messages based on these actions. MOM works well for group communications, e.g. if there are multiple clients receiving a message through MOM and if one of them could not receive the message then no client will receive the message i.e. either all clients receive the message or none. So, it works well in those environments where all clients’ availability is not warranted or network availability is not sure. Unlike Message queuing, it pushes the information to the interested programs.

Object Oriented Middleware (OOM): OOM is the most useful and flexible middleware. RPCs extended with object oriented concepts like object references, inheritance is called Object Oriented Middleware. OOM supports both synchronous and asynchronous communication through messaging or transactions.

Another emerging category in middleware is mobile middleware or better known as mobility solutions.  Mobile middleware solutions can be seen as an extension to middleware technology. Mobile middleware can be defined as a layer being used to connect application with mobile network and operating systems. Mobile middleware solutions help organizations in effectively managing and securing mobile applications and devices.  Mobile middleware allows developer to easily enable mobile connectivity to wide variety of applications.

One of the latest developments in Middleware technology is usage of Middleware products for clinical data management. Middleware software enables real-time clinical data management and consolidation of test data from clinical labs generated by variety of instruments.

Middleware includes or uses following components that support application development:

• Application Server: This is the part of the application where business logic resides. For example, if there is a change in the logic of any of the business parameters that would be changed only at Application Server without any modifications at client’s end.

• Database Software: Data Management lies at the center of the most multi-tier systems. Middleware or middle tier works closely with a database management system. It allows transmission of data between client and server. Middle tier accepts request from client and sends it to database server and database server executes the request.

• Portal: Portals are highly personalized user interaction tools used by organizations that give access of relevant information, business applications, discussion forums, instant messaging, search and other company resources to selected audience. Portals use Middleware to provide a collaborative and composite environment.

• SOA: Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a way to design, develop and deploy a system. It is neither architecture nor a complete system in itself. Applications built on SOA are called Service-Oriented Systems. The latest Middleware technology is based on SOA that have pre-built services to be used by multiple systems.

• Web Server: Web Server processes the requests and delivers it to the client. Web server uses web services that are one of the most advanced and promising way to integrate systems. Web Services works over web (or Internet) and communicate with programs via Internet protocols like Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). It is one of the most flexible options for integration and supports both RPC and MOM systems.

Benefits of Middleware

In today’s world, new components keep on joining the existing systems and others may be outdated and have to be removed. Many organizations still rely on some of their legacy systems and middleware plays a critical role in integrating these old legacy systems and newly adopted applications.  It is economically and practically not feasible to re-design or re-configure the system based on fluctuating market, regulatory and customer demands and so on.  Another challenge is heterogeneous nature of applications. If a situation arises where you want these systems to interact, it is really difficult to achieve this integration due to heterogeneity or else you need to go for a development of new application or piece of code from scratch which is not a cost effective approach. Every organization wants to get rid of this heterogeneity problem and here Middleware comes into the picture.

The major benefits observed by enterprises that have implemented Middleware are:

Portability and Reusability: Today’s advanced technology applications are quicker to facilitate the business process or customer level changes, however that may not be the case with old legacy applications being used in the organization. Middleware technology helps to make old legacy systems into more rationalized and reusable components to facilitate quick changes. Products or services using Middleware take less time to develop due to reusability of common components in multiple environments. Developers can use same piece of code on any platform that means reduction in development cycle. Middleware increase the portability of an application and improves the reliability of the system.

Efficient and Cost Effective: Due to the enhanced reusability, Middleware application take less time to configure or develop and business process can be easily automated using Middleware technologies that helps in reducing the cycle time and overall efficiency. There are more than 50% decrease noticed in software development time and project cost.

Seamless Heterogeneous Integration: In today’s time technology is evolving at an accelerating rate and there is a growing need of interaction between heterogeneous systems, integration of systems which were purchased years ago with new system that are using the most advanced technologies. This diversity in applications definitely help organizations to manage their business in a more organized way but also creates complexity in managing so many heterogeneous applications at the same time. A successfully Middleware eases the heterogeneity problem and makes interaction between application very cost-effective and efficient.

Information Management is also a key part of any large scale application and middleware technologies also provide support in design, development and deployment of information management systems.

How do you evaluate a Middleware Product?

Middleware platforms have been evolved over the time to meet the business requirements and challenges faced during deployment. Making a decision to select a Middleware product is difficult due to the complexity of the overall design. There are both functional and non-functional requirements e.g. performance, development time, interoperability etc., that should be met when deciding a Middleware.

There is no specific thumb rule to select a middleware – different kind of middleware solutions serves a specific purpose depending upon the applications and infrastructure being used in an organization. We can consider following points while reviewing the Middleware options available. However, the final choice depends on the purpose of implementation and benefits to realize:

• Business Logic should be easily updatable

• Seamless interaction with back end without direct visibility to client.

• As Business grows, there may be requirements to integrate application that have been developed over the period of time and a Middleware plays a crucial role in seamless integration.

• Middleware works through web, so there may be a possibility that secured data which was available to specific users in a legacy system is now exposed through web servers, so there has to be a security mechanism in place in any Middleware.

• In Message Oriented Middleware, there is a continuous communication between programs and messages should be encrypted. Similarly for Application server communication, there should be a proper authentication in place for web server and database server.

• It should provide audit functionality to capture logs and reporting for the same, e.g. unauthorized access, updates in privileges etc.

In today’s competitive market, organizations are looking for quicker and seamless integration between applications, hence Middleware market has grown rapidly in last few years and expected to continue growing in coming years and there is no surprise that there are so many competitive Middleware products available in the market. Our experts can provide you the assistance in selecting the best Middleware tool for your organization, so click to fill out the form or call us for free at 1-888-SOFTWARE.