WRQ Releases Verastream 5.5 Integration Server

Enterprise Networks & Servers, Mar 2004

WRQ has announced the general availability of WRQ Verastream 5.5 integration server, a single solution for rejuvenation and reuse of host application logic and data in new Web applications, packaged applications and portals. Verastream 5.5 combines new support for leading enterprise technologies with increased performance and management capabilities to enhance productivity, lower costs and simplify IT administration.

With this release, WRQ has expanded its focus on Microsoft technologies by providing seamless integration with Visual Studio .NET and BizTalk Server, making it possible for Microsoft developers to work directly with legacy components within the Microsoft .NET development environment.

Enterprise demand for real-time and Web-driven business initiatives has shaped the enhancements to WRQ Verastream. With an estimated 70 percent of a company's critical customer data locked away in various legacy applications, organizations can use Verastream within their service-oriented architecture to expose legacy application logic and data as reusable components, such as COM Objects, JavaBeans, Web services, or the newly added .NET component, without having to learn legacy code.

"Economic conditions and a desire for reduced complexity are driving companies toward a common solution for Web-enabling legacy applications for visual or composite applications," said Dale Vecchio, research director for Gartner Inc. "Programmatic integration servers more closely integrated with dominant development environments, such as Microsoft's Visual Studio or IBM's WebSphere Studio, provide a good option for enterprises looking to extend legacy."

Added rejuvenation capabilities, integration with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004, and broader support for the Microsoft .NET platform enable developers to create flexible solutions that transform legacy applications for rapid reuse. Using Verastream, application developers can build services, portlets/Webparts or composite applications by consolidating and sharing information across a variety of host platforms through a single interface.

"WRQ Verastream 5.5 offers IT departments a low-risk, low-cost integration solution with an advanced approach to building new business applications, portals and web services," said Randy Robinson, vice president of products at WRQ. "Verastream is the only legacy extension platform to provide a complete spectrum of solutions, from basic rejuvenation to full programmatic integration. Verastream's ability to work within the developer's environment of choice both speeds the development of new initiatives and establishes a working foundation for future projects."

Key technology highlights within this new version of Verastream include the following.

Broad support for Microsoft .NET technologies: WRQ Verastream 5.5 now provides a full .NET API with native .NET DataSet support, automatic generation of .NET Class Libraries and COM Objects, automatic generation of AS P.NET and ASP Web applications, automatic generation of .NET Web services, and enhanced interoperability with Visual Studio .NET.

BizTalk 2004 Integration: WRQ Verastream 5.5 expands the reach of Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004 by providing a non-invasive, bi-directional, real-time connection to host systems (such as IBM Mainframe, IBM AS/400, Unix, OpenVMS, HP e3000). Verastream eliminates any host programming and allows BizTalk developers to encapsulate and reuse legacy application functionality within the BizTalk orchestration environment.

www.wrq.com