ABSTRACT
Achieving data or application integration entails more than a middleware product selection. The ways in which products are combined to provide a solution are varied; however, several techniques in developing integration architectures are becoming common. One data integration approach is illustrated in the case of an electronics component manufacturer that wanted to move all of its enterprise systems from an IBM mainframe to UNIX servers. Message Brokers are an emerging middleware architecture trend that have the potential to improve enterprisewide integration strategies. While a Message Broker approach is appropriate for larger-scale integration, another popular integration technique is one using component/object wrappers. To achieve the netcentric integration that enables integration architectures, several specific types of middleware are commonly employed. These include: core Messaging Products; netcentric Enabled Middleware; and data Transformation Tools. Achieving data or application integration requires an intensive effort and a significant amount of custom development.
