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With webClusterŽ, it is possible to build web applications that run faster, use less bandwidth and continue to work when the Internet is unavailable.

It also allows the processing, data and applications on several hosts to be seamlessly combined for web applications. Servers can be located in the same data center or across the world, interconnected via the Internet. Each securely contributes its data, business logic, processing power and storage capacity to the web application.

Use
  • As a foundation for corporate web applications supporting stores, branches, dealers or partners
  • Web based POS systems
  • Web applications that need to communicate with regional systems around the world
  • Environments where each server has a specific purpose (e.g., POS, Inventory, Financials) and web applications need access to each
Features
  • Fastest "like-local" browser response times
  • Centrally managed, requiring no technical skills in branch offices or stores
  • Greatly reduces the amount of data transmitted
  • Browser-based applications continue to function even when the network connection to the central server is lost
  • Central processing power required for large web applications can be reduced by sharing the workload with servers in distributed locations
  • Allows lower bandwidth communication links to be used without impacting performance
  • Applications can be developed using Java and open database architectures
  • Low cost wireless hand-held devices can be used in branches or stores with faster browser response times and do not require subscription to a wireless network provider
  • Transactions can be replicated to a central server, providing automatic fallback in case of branch server hardware failure
  • Programmable in industry standard languages and open database architectures
Benefits
  • Reduced communication cost
  • Increased end user productivity
  • Eliminates critical dependence on communication links, associated down time and productivity loss
  • Reduces cost of redundant equipment for disaster recovery purposes
  • Eliminates retraining of development staff on proprietary tools
Applications must first be developed using the Strategi Developers Toolkit. High Speed Messaging servers are then installed on the hosts of choice.

WebCluster seamlessly creates the appearance that all HSM servers are resident on the primary host, supporting the web application.

Communications between hosts is secured by strong, standards based cryptography and digital certificates uniquely identify each server.

Competitive Comparison

Alternatives fall into the following three categories - Data access between hosts (e.g. ODBC, DDM, etc.), Data copied periodically between hosts or Special communications programs that are written on each host and communicate via TCP/IP, MQ-Series, etc.;

Questions that you should ask when comparing alternate solutions in each category:

Data Access (ODBC, JDBC, DDM, etc.)
  • What is the performance penalty with large numbers of simultaneous data requests as is common in web applications (many of these solutions are demonstrated and sold with only one requesting task which is not a real world scenario)?
  • If the database size is very large, what is the impact on performance under load?
  • Since web applications will need to update or add to production databases (initially or inevitably in the future), how can integrity be maintained in the primary database?
Data Replication
  • How will the web application be guaranteed to not publish out of date or misleading data?
  • What strategy will be used for very large database files where replication becomes impractical?
  • What is the performance impact of synchronization on production systems? How will this be measured and simulated prior to development?
Communications programs custom written on each host
  • Do in-house skills exist to maintain and modify these programs since they will become increasingly critical as web applications grow in sophistication?
  • What risk mitigation strategies exist if these developers or consultants are no longer available?
  • What is the learning curve required to master distributed programming and manage the environment operationally?
System Requirements
  • IBM iSeries server
  • Strategi Base Software
  • Strategi Developer (HSM)
  • Peer system(s) with Strategi WebCluster installed