An application server is a type of middleware that offers a number of application services, including transaction management, load balancing, fail-over, session management, connection pooling, component management and security. Most also provide Web connectivity, and many are providing asynchronous messaging. The vast majority of application servers support Java components. Workflow management is necessary for enabling dynamic application assembly from preexisting and new components, and application server vendors are starting to offer it. In fact, the domain expertise contained in these e-business solutions and frameworks represents some of the most important competitive advantages and differentiators among the application server vendors.
Component architectures enable business adaptability.
Application servers enable business managers and programmers to focus on business functionality instead of building system-level services. Therefore, they are becoming ever more important in the age of e-business, where business agility can mean life or death for a company. Today, building a flexible and adaptable e-business infrastructure is extremely complex, includes multiple technologies and doesn't come in a box or even from a single vendor. The mission of ebizQ is to help business executives and technologists find the information they need for evaluating technologies and building and deploying their e-business platforms. The launch of the e-serv site represents our continuing commitment to this mission.