A CSIRO study of a key technology for internet-based computing - middleware - has found that there are significant differences between the major platforms available in the market.

CSIRO has been running a critical eye over middleware, the software foundation of business to business e-commerce.

Dr Ian Gorton of CSIRO says that, like all competing products, there are strengths and weaknesses in particular areas.

"Many of the differences stem from the underlying product architectures and attempts to specialise in certain key areas. The purpose of our study is to help buyers choose the right products for their own requirements," he says.

Business has already seen the stand-alone computer give way to networks. The next big shift is from local networks to internet-based computing and middleware is the key enabling technology behind this transition.

Middleware sits between applications and operating systems - hence the name - and is the infrastructure that allows construction of scalable, reliable, secure IT systems; essential ingredients for an internet-based application environment.

When applications and data reside out on the Internet rather than on a local disk, businesses can communicate and conduct e-commerce more easily.

Dr Gorton says that businesses can realise big benefits from paying attention to their middleware needs.

"Middleware has been around for quite a while but, as businesses increasingly move into e-commerce, its role becomes more critical," he says.

"As organisations rely on internet-based applications to perform more of their basic business functions, the consequences of unreliability or inappropriate configurations of middleware technology become more serious."

"We set out to help people make the right choices, at the right cost, for their business by independently evaluating all the major middleware technologies."

"CSIRO's independence and the scientifically rigorous design of the evaluation process mean that IT managers can have faith that our results represent the most comprehensive and reliable evaluation of competing middleware technologies," says Dr Gorton.

CSIRO has released the first two of what will be a continuously updated set of reports. Iona's OrbixOTM and Forte 4GL are now available. Reports on BEA WebLogic Enterprise, Inprise's Visibroker ITS, Fujitsu's INTERSTAGE Application Server and Microsoft's COM+ will be available by the end of the year. Work is also progressing rapidly evaluating Enterprise Java Bean and message-oriented middleware products.

Dr Gorton is pleased with the feedback he has had both from vendors and users of middleware.

"It's been a learning experience for all the parties involved. By facilitating the choice of suitable products for business needs, we hope to eliminate the risk of critical failures and increase the overall satisfaction level of customers with the products they buy. It's a positive outcome for all," he says.

The CSIRO Middleware reports can be ordered online at:
http://www.publish.csiro.au

For more information on CSIRO's middleware reports see:
http://www.cmis.csiro.au/adsat/publications.htm

More information:
Dr Ian Gorton, CSIRO 02 9325 3214, ian.gorton@cmis.csiro.au
Tom McGinness, CSIRO 02 9325 3227, mobile 0419 419 210

Images related to this press release are available from:
http://www.cmis.csiro.au/mediapics.htm