WebSphere

An Introduction to the

Webfacing Wizard

Presented by: Raymond Everhart

Overview

• What Is WebSphere?

• What Is WebFacing?

• What Is View / Controller / Model?

• What Tools Do I Use To WebFace?

• How is a WebFaced Application Deployed?

• What Does Webfacing Do For Me?

• How Much Does Webfacing Cost?

What Is WebSphere?

• IBM’s Infrastructure Software Solution

• Core Operating Environment:– WebSphere Application Server

• Application Development:– WebSphere Studio

• Add On Products– WebSphere Portal– WebSphere Commerce– Many More

What Is WebFacing?

• Delivered as a component of the iSeries toolset.

• Converts DDS to Java Server Pages And Java Beans.

• Allows Existing RPG/Cobol applications to be deployed on an application server.

• Conversion occurs during development not at run-time.

• Allows customization in DDS.

What is View / Controller / Model ?

• An Application Design Methodology

• Logic is separated by function– View - Display Functions (Browser)– Controller - Screen Handling (Application

Server)– Model - Business Logic and File I/O (Host)

• WebFacing partially simulates VCM

What Tools Do I Use To WebFace?

• First Webfacing tools were delivered as a part of the WebSphere Development Toolkit v5.1. (WDT 5.1)

• Most recent version supplied as part of WebSphere Development Studio Client v4.0 (WDSc v4.0) Service Pack 3

• Next version WDSc v5.0 available April 25, 2003

How is a WebFaced Application Deployed?

• DDS is Converted to Java Server Pages and Java Beans

• All of the required objects are placed in a WAR file.(Web Application Archive)

• The WAR File is deployed/installed onto the Application Server.(WebSphere, Tomcat….on a xSeries, iSeries, zSeries…)

What Does Webfacing Do For Me?

• Allows me to add a browser based interface to an existing application in minutes.

• Allows one program to support browser based clients and green-screen clients.

• Allows existing staff to develop browser based applications in RPG/Cobol while learning Java.

How Much Does Webfacing Cost?

• User Time - WebFaced/Java applications are slower than Green-Screen applications

• Interactive CPU - WebFaced applications run as interactive jobs. (300 CPW min)

• Requires an Application Server– Tomcat - “Free” (You get what you pay for)– WAS Express as low as $500.00 for 20 users

Summary

• IBM wants you to use WebSphere. Over the next year, IBM will be spending $500 million dollars to put WebSphere based solutions in front of Small/Medium sized businesses.

• IBM provides tools to iSeries users that cost thousands on other platforms.

• WebFacing is an ideal entry method into the WebSphere environment.

Additional Information

• http://www.ibm.com/websphere

• http://www.midrangeserver.com

• http://www.search400.com

Raymond Everhart reverhart@raecodesign.com