U2 Web DE 

U2 Web Development Environment for UniData and UniVerse (U2 Web DE) is the new name for RedBack® . U2 Web DE is an object-based application platform that speeds Web development and enables flexible, scalable deployment of Web solutions.

U2 Web DE enables rapid object-based Web development for UniData® and UniVerse®.

Builds an object interface, via RedBack Objects (RBOs), to U2 business logic and data structures.

Provides flexible access to RBOs using the technology of your choice:

• Web Services
• Java
• .NET

• Provides scalability and load balancing through connection and session pooling
• Maximises the efficient use of data server resources
• Converts SystemBuilder processes and screens to Web pages
• Provides performance tuning and problem determination

Features and Benefits

Highlights

• Provides object-oriented view of U2 data server and business logic
• Delivers highly robust and scalable on demand infrastructure through connection pooling and load balancing
• Provides graphical tools for defining, testing, and debugging IBM RedBack® Objects (RBOs) and designing Web pages with IBM UniVerse® and IBM UniData® (U2) data bindings
• Converts IBM SB+™ processes and screens to Web pages
• Previously named IBM® RedBack™

Features

• Provides a robust, highly scaleable, secure, efficient infrastructure for Web deployment of U2 applications and data
• Creates an object interface to U2 data and proven business logic
• Delivers highly robust and scalable On Demand infrastructure through Webshares and load balancing
• Performs as a server capable of receiving, processing, and responding to XML/SOAP requests
• Supports stateless and stateful objects
• Supports industry standard interfaces to U2 applications including HTTP, .NET, Java, XML, and SOAP
• Supports selection of one or more technology solutions through an open front-end user development framework
• Configures the number of required U2 data server sessions - increasing or decreasing them automatically - based upon traffic volume
• Converts IBM SB+ GUI screens and processes for Web access
• Includes an integrated Eclipse-based Object Designer, U2 Web Designer
  1. Provides a feature-rich environment for creating and modifying Web pages that use RedBack Objects to access U2 data and business logic as previously provided in RedBack Designer
  2. Debugs and tests RedBack Objects as previously provided in RBO Scope
  3. Converts IBM SB+ GUI screens and processes for Web access

Benefits

• Delivers On Demand applications
• Provides a time-saving, accurate facility that automatically documents objects, their method and property characteristics, and interrelationships
• Provides abstracted interface independent of the front-end or client supporting a - develop once, deploy many - model
• Enables scalability that is capable of supporting millions of data server hits per day (depending on application design, function, and chosen architecture)
• Preserves existing business logic including investment in U2 applications
• Provides an Open Development Framework
• Provides a seamless, native interface to existing applications

Tools and Components

Redback Objects

RBOs represent the object abstraction of the back-end U2 data server. RBOs, comprised of properties and methods, are created with the RedBack Designer tool. Properties can include actual U2 back-end data or interim state data. Methods define what is to be performed. Some of the tasks defined by methods can include back-end subroutine calls.

User interfaces and browser standards evolve. However, business rules are pervasive. The challenges you face include choosing the appropriate technology to meet your business objectives while ensuring your systems can support the latest available technologies to help maximise your development investment. By utilising RBOs, your development team has the ability to access the underlying U2 data structures from multiple platforms. An initial implementation might focus on Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) technologies that access RBOs. Later, a new project may call for an XML interface. Existing RBOs, once developed, can be deployed unchanged using the many interfaces supported now and those to come in the future.

RBOs provide flexibility on the front-end with the selected user application interface technology while maintaining a consistent set of business rules and model. If the business model requires modification, existing methods or properties can be easily altered in a central repository without having to disrupt the entire system. If the user application interface is redeployed using a different type, only the front end components need to be modified and the RBOs (back-end business model) remain untouched. This gives your business an extensible, easily maintained application.

Redback Designer

The RedBack Designer, available for U2 Web DE 4.4 and below, is a graphical tool which enables the definition of U2 objects. For example, applications developed with IBM SystemBuilder (SB) can also be integrated by using the SB+ specific class provided with the RedBack Designer. Allowing this direct access to existing data and proven business logic promotes the "develop once, deploy many" principle. An added benefit is that once a RedBack Object is defined, it can be referenced by any network application server technology supported by the U2 Web DE Server.

U2 Web DE Server

The U2 Web DE Server is responsible for communications between RBOs and the supported interface such as XML/Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Java™ Native Interface (JNI), JavaServer Pages (JSP), ASP, ActiveData Objects (ADO) and Component Object Model (COM). By incorporating support for these interfaces, U2 Web DE will be ready to introduce future interface functionality without affecting existing RBOs so you can take advantage of new technologies as they become available.

U2 Web DE Webshares

Webshares enable U2 Web DE applications to provide shared connections to the host and data server. Through configuration of responders and U2 Web DE Webshares, U2 Web DE implementations provide a service level from hundreds to millions of hits per day.

• Minimum one (1) required
• Two (2) recommended for performance
• Total number of Webshares depends on application design

U2 Web DE Gateway

Key to the robustness of U2 Web DE architecture is the scalability provided through the U2 Web DE Gateway component. This is comprised of a U2 Web DE Gateway client requester, residing on the Web server host (IBM WebSphere® Application Server, Apache or Microsoft IIS, for instance), and the Gateway server scheduler, residing on the U2 application server host (usually behind the firewall). The U2 Web DE Gateway client requester intercepts and services only those requests related to U2 Web DE. These requests are then handed off to the U2 Web DE Gateway server scheduler, which submits them to U2 back-end data server processes known as responders. These responders perform the functions required by the associated object method against the U2 data server and return results by setting object property values. Responders are not specific. Rather, they can be viewed as a pool of connections to the U2 data server, available to process any incoming U2 Web DE request. Through configuration of responders and U2 Web DE Webshares, a given U2 Web DE implementation can be customized to provide a service level from hundreds to millions of hits per day.

U2 Web Designer

The U2 Web Designer is an Eclipse-based tool which provides a feature-rich environment for creating and modifying Web pages that use RedBack Objects to access U2 data and business logic. The U2 Web Designer provides a graphical drag-and-drop paradigm for creating the Web pages, with little Web experience necessary. This is function previously provided in IBM RedBack Designer.

Allowing this direct access to existing data and proven business logic promotes the "develop once, deploy many" principle. An added benefit is that once a RedBack Object is defined, it can be referenced by any network application server technology supported by the U2 Web DE Server.

As of Release 4.4, U2 Web Designer includes an integrated testing and debugging environment. This function was previously provided as part of the RBO Scope tool.

U2 Web Designer can also automate conversion of existing SB+ input and output processes and screens for use on the Internet. This enables reuse of existing logic and support structures to Web-enable SB+ applications. Once converted, the tool provides facilities for enhancing these Web pages.

U2 Web DE 4.3

IBM U2 Web Development Environment for UniData and UniVerse version 4.3 (U2 Web DE 4.3) — available May 31, 2006 — delivers easier Web development, provides simpler installation, and reduces cost.

Easier Web Development

IBM U2 Web DE 4.3 now includes U2 Web Designer, a graphical tool that quickly and easily allows you to create Web applications that leverage your U2 information assets. U2 Web Designer provides drag and drop page design that links in your U2 processes and data and generates Active Server Pages that can be deployed as is or further refined with style sheets and custom coding. U2 Web Designer automatically converts IBM U2 SB+ GUI screen definitions, input and output processes for Web presentation.

Simpler Installation

The newest technology simplifies and automates installation and license acceptance of U2 Web DE while showing the latest IBM user interface.

Reduces Cost

RedBack Designer is now bundled with IBM U2 Web DE 4.3 along with the new U2 Web Designer tool. Creating RedBack Objects to access U2 business processes and data assets for graphical Web development is included as part of the base package.

Highlights

• Renamed from IBM RedBack™
• Converts SB screens and processes to be used on the Web
• Provides simpler installation
• Bundles RedBack Designer and U2 Web Designer
• Supports Tier 1 platforms
  • IBM AIX®
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Sun Solaris
  • HP-UX
  • Linux®

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