Apologies for the messy stuff in this page. I am trying to find out what it is. Hopefully someone will describe this animal better with more useful details. It appears to be a heavyweight contender as a development platform though.
NetWeaver is a development platform from SapCorporation (the top EnterpriseResourcePlanning firm) that debuted in 2003 (see http://web.archive.org/web/20030119120846/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030116/sfth044a_1.html). Although primarily a JavaPlatform product (via WebSphere) , it claim interoperability with MicrosoftDotNet.
SapCorporation is said to have close relationships with MicrosoftCorporation, SAP NetWeaver appeared in DotNet roadshows, and the company was considered as a merger partner by the Redmond giant.
Resources
General info on the NetWeaverPlatform at http://www.cxotoday.com/cxo/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=2798&cat_id=911
SAP portal product for DotNet at http://www.theserverside.net/news/thread.tss?thread_id=31096
SAP tells developer to focus on Business at http://www.idevnews.com/IntegrationNews.asp?ID=123
From NetWeaver Master Guide 04 version
see http://help.sap.com/nw04, http://service.sap.com/network, "SAP NetWeaver Security Guide"
NetWeaver is the technical foundation for mySAP Business Suite and SAP xApps solutions...
MicrosoftDotNet, Sun JavaTwoEnterpriseEdition (J2EE), IBM WebSphere
Adobe PF 6 interactive forms inclusion in "Web Dynpro" and "NetWeaver Developer Studio" meant SAP applications can drive business processes using PDF documents.
Scenarios include:
- SAP BW - supports Crystal Enterprise SAP edition version 10
- SAP BI Information Broadcasting
- SAP EP (Enterprise Portal)
- SAP XI (SAP Exchange Infrastructure)
- SAP MI (Mobile Infrastructure)
- SAP KW (Knowledge Warehouse) - Arbortext Epic or Altova Authentic xml editors supported
- SAP NetWeaver Development Environment
- SAP MDM (Master Data Management)
Installable components include (AS means "Application Server")
- Web AS ABAP 6.40 with BW server 3.5, IGS 6.40 and PI_BASIS 6.40
- Web AS Java 6.40 with J2EE engine, SAP Java Connector, SAP Java Tech Services
- SAP GUI 6.20 or 6.40
NetWeaver perspective on Software components
- Collaboration via collaboration rooms that are populated with elements from SAP Enterprise portal. Can integrate groupware (Exchange, notes) and synchronous collaboration tools such as "Web Ex".
- real-time: appln sharing, chat, instant messaging
- async: tasks, calendar, discussions
- Knowledge Management access to unstructured documents in repositories connected to portal, via "repository managers". APIs available to develop customized repository managers.
- Content Management. life-cycle management of documents. Has collaboration features like feedback, rating, subscription
- TREX search and classification, for text mining. TRES is used in SAP BW as well.
- Business Information Warehouse is a core component and includes warehousing, business intelligence, tool called "Business Explorer". Manages the distribution of information as well, in accordance to different roles (BI Content).
- BI component includes OLAP, business planning and simulation, special processes like Data Mining and Reporting Agent.
- "Business Explorer" supports strategic analyses, operational reporting, and decision-making support.
- Enterprise Portal provides role based, secured web interface without installed client components.
- iViews allows access for reading or operations (e.g. form submission). Has portal navigation, portal eventing. Preassembled iViews "business packages" available for download.
- XI Exchange Infrastructure integrates heterogeneous components from multiple vendors and technology environments. Capable of tying "shared business semantics" and mediate between services and technical realizations.
- Technical components include queuing, mapping and routing. Provides infrastructure for BPM
- Process integration without direct connection between processes. New components are plug-in and eliminate the cost of direct connections.
- Knowledge warehouse is the technical infrastructure to manage documentation, training and manuals in different media. Has facilities to model large company structures.
- ISO 9000 quality management template is available.
- Developer Studio for development of multi-layered java based applications using EclipseIde. Also supports "Web Dynpro"?
- has deployment manager to connect to J2EE engine
- Java Development Infrastructure is intended for server-side services.
- Design time repository for software versioning
- Component build Service for structuring applications and build from components
- Change Management Service for software life-cycle management
- Deployment Manager has manual or automated deployments
- System Landscape Directory
- Name service
- Java dictionary
- SAP Java test tools
- Visual Composer for creating portal content via GUI
- User Management Engine provides centralized user management for all Java appln. Its data can be drawn from a combination of existing corporate directory, SAP Web AS ABAP system or database.
- Web Application Server was called SAP Basis and can be configured as AbapLanguage (ABAP) only, ABAP & Java, or Java only.
- via Java Connector or .NET connector to link to components from the respective architectures.
- ICF (Internet Communication Framework) allow direct ABAP programs to process and distribute HTTP requests.
- Can function either as HTTP clients or servers, and also SMTP based email send/receive.
ABAP Server
ABAP server includes Change and Transport System (CTS) that supports large development teams.
New Business Server Pages programming model available after R/3 4.6C release. The Web AS includes a Internet Communication Manager (ICM) that supports HTTP/HTTPS protocols.
A Transport Management System can be used to link up development, test and prod environments.
Java Applications
scenarios include:
- J2EE ( JSP/Servlet and EJB)
- Web Dynpro (MVC based application interface that can be connected to webservice)
- SAP JCo to access ABAP
- Development and integration of Web Service
- during development, web service can use UDDI as an option
- A platform specific proxy is generated using a WSDL file, and the generator will be concerned with the formulated of valid SOAP messages
Messaging in "Exchange Infrastructure"
Middleware technology include:
Central SAP Administration and Monitoring System
- includes Computer Centre Management System to collect and handle alerts
- Web Administrator will progressively become the centralized administrator
Solution Managers are used for operational management purposes.
Specialized toolsets for admin
- Wily Introscope Tool for performance and troubleshooting
- Mercury Interactive load generator
Gunnar, it is not intended as spam, I am learning about significant application development platforms, and I would think after IBM and MS, this could be the next biggest, and I think it would be bigger than Sun's product offering. --dl
CategoryEjb CategoryDotNet CategoryEnterpriseComputingConcerns
Net Weaver