The module introduced you to the powerful effect middleware has on e-Commerce solutions.
Several years ago, middleware products were usually a bunch of point software services with arcane interfaces.
EAI is changing the state of the art in middleware. Some key ideas to remember about middleware:
Middleware makes it easier for developers to tie together disparate[1] solutions and architectures. The key architectural constructs of software, and thus the areas requiring integration, involve: Middleware has evolved to allow for the integration of these constructs, as well as integration using these constructs.
Historically, IBM products like CICS and MQSeries dominated the middleware space. In recent years, however, new models emerged, largely supporting the requirements of e-Commerce. In particular, we have seen the emergence of publish and subscribe messaging models eclipsing MQSeries and related product messaging designs.
EAI products will continue to evolve over the next few years. In addition, it is expected that many EAI and application server products will
come together to supply a holistic environment for the development, execution, management, and integration of e-Commerce solutions out of a
single box. In the past, middleware was the domain of the low-level coder, who had to know how to manipulate arcane middleware constructs to integrate
disparate systems. Middleware, however, is growing up, and increasingly becoming a key tool for the e-Commerce architect.
Software Architect's Handbook
Summary
Building the platform under the largest eCommerce websites in the world requires special up-front design and robust scalable technology.
Large-scale eCommerce websites today require hundreds or even thousands of CPU cores, which presents unique challenges.
As a provider of technology to 941 of the top 100 e-Retailers in the U.S., Oracle supplies the technology and organizational expertise required to support the largest eCommerce websites in the world. Oracle's solution for large-scale eCommerce websites (inclusive of the eCommerce application) consists of the following:
1) Product Solutions.
Product Solutions
Oracle owns all products in the solution and has invested substantial resources to ensure that all of the solution components work exceptionally well together. Oracle Commerce, as the application, most of the content is applicable to any application deployed to a Java EE-compliant container.
Heterogeneous environments are a normal part of enterprise architecture. The key to scalability is choosing a partner that provides the technology, services, and support required to implement eCommerce.
Oracle is that partner and this white paper will describe Oracle's offerings and the architecture principles required to succeed.
Diagram describing Function and the corresponding Oracle Product
[1]Disparate: Technology that contains or is made up of fundamentally different and often incompatible elements.
