WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus 2.0 released

MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: WSO2, the open source SOA company, has released version 2.0 of the WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus (ESB).

The completely re-architected open source WSO2 ESB 2.0 is now based on WSO2 Carbon, the industry’s first fully componentized service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework.

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The modular WSO2 ESB 2.0 provides unprecedented flexibility for managing service-oriented connections in an enterprise. Because it is based on the WSO2 Carbon system, developers can now plug in extra components to handle tasks, such as service hosting, business process management, and SOA governance without disrupting existing flows and configuration. The ability to customize the behavior of the ESB with a plug-and-play simplicity eliminates the typical cost and complexity of integration.

Additionally, developers can separate the management console logic from the ESB routing and transformation engine of the WSO2 ESB 2.0, making it possible to use a single front-end management console to administer several back-end ESB instances simultaneously.

Key features of the WSO2 ESB 2.0 include:

* Enhanced sequence designer lets users simply develop powerful ESB flow logic using a wide variety of built-in mediators, as well as customer-provided code. Developers also can easily switch between the XML and graphical views of the sequence.

* Enhanced proxy service wizard provides the ability to create a robust proxy service in four clicks, using simple editors to configure the behavior.

* New transport management screens allow users to configure and manage transports including Mail, File, transactional JMS, and non-blocking HTTP and HTTPS transports that are shipped with the ESB.

* Support for events, including support for graphical declaration of event sources and mediation for event delivery, enables the ESB to act as an event broker, for use in event-driven architectures (EDA).

* New security management wizard lets users select options for authentication and authorization either by hand or by using a list of the 12 most common security scenarios.

“Customers know from first-hand experience that one ESB solution does not fit all, but until now, there has been little choice,” said Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, founder and CEO of WSO2. “With our WSO2 ESB 2.0, the options are as varied as enterprises’ SOAs—providing the flexibility to change as needs evolve, without the complexity.”

The WSO2 ESB 2.0 is being launched in conjunction with the WSO2 Carbon SOA framework and the other products based on it—including the WSO2 Business Process Server (BPS) 1.0, WSO2 Web Services Application Server (WSAS) 3.0, and WSO2 Registry 2.0. For more information, see the related press releases also dated February 9, 2009.

Componentized WSO2 ESB 2.0

Version 2.0 builds on the proven performance of the WSO2 ESB, which provides a lightweight mediation platform that is based on and enhances the open source Apache Synapse ESB. Designed for the demands of high-volume SOAs, it can route messages with millisecond overhead and scale to manage thousands of simultaneous error-free connections—on standard server hardware.

As part of the WSO2 Carbon SOA platform, which is based on the OSGi specification, the WSO2 ESB 2.0 now runs on the same core Carbon framework that provides all WSO2 Carbon SOA components with enterprise-class management, security, clustering, logging, statistics, tracing, and a “Try-It” wizard that makes it simple to instantly test ESB services. Additionally, the WSO2 ESB uses the graphical unified management console, which supports all Carbon components and provides enhanced administration.

As a result, it is no longer necessary, for example, to download and implement the WSO2 WSAS 3.0 and WSO2 ESB 2.0 as separate products. Instead, developers who need Web services integration can choose to start with the ESB product, which includes the core Carbon framework.

If required, they can then add WSAS components, such as those for Java service hosting or data services, and these will automatically utilize the core Carbon framework and console. Similarly, developers that have implemented service hosting using WSO2 WSAS 3.0 can choose to download the WSO2 mediation component, rather than the entire WSO2 ESB 2.0 product.

The Carbon framework that powers the ESB 2.0 brings additional new functionality, including full registry/repository integration, eventing support (including WS-Eventing Broker), WS-Policy Editor, transactional support for JMS and JDBC, support for Active Directory and LDAP.

Availability and support

The WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus 2.0 is available for download. To get started, developers need to download the full product to get the core Carbon framework and unified management console that drive all of the components. Individual components will be available within one month of the initial product release, allowing developers to simply add new capabilities to any of the core products as needed.

As a fully open source solution released under the Apache License 2.0, the WSO2 ESB does not carry any software licensing or subscription fees. WSO2 offers a range of service and support options for the WSO2 ESB. These include support subscriptions, training, consulting, custom development and development support.