A Comparison of Open Source Application Servers for the Enterprise Webinar on Dec 11, 2008 Presented by Rod Cope & Veljko Krunic of OpenLogic Recording available at: www.openlogic.com/downloads/webinars.php

OpenLogic enables enterprises to safely and securely acquire, manage and control open source software, and thereby realize significantly higher savings . About OpenLogic

OpenLogic enables enterprises to

safely and securely

acquire, manage and control

open source software,

and thereby

realize significantly higher savings .

Goal Help you choose which open source application servers to evaluate more thoroughly: JBoss GlassFish dm Server Geronimo Tomcat

Help you choose which open source application servers to evaluate more thoroughly:

JBoss

GlassFish

dm Server

Geronimo

Tomcat

Introduction Rod Cope CTO & Founder of OpenLogic 25 years of software development experience IBM Global Services, Anthem, Ericsson, many more Veljko Krunic Senior Consultant 15 years of software development experience JBoss Division of Red Hat, Rally Software, PeopleSoft, many more OpenLogic, Inc. SLA support, security updates, and indemnification for over 450 open source packages (including JBoss, GlassFish, Geronimo and Tomcat) Governance and policy enforcement Consulting services and training Dozens of Fortune 500 customers

Rod Cope

CTO & Founder of OpenLogic

25 years of software development experience

IBM Global Services, Anthem, Ericsson, many more

Veljko Krunic

Senior Consultant

15 years of software development experience

JBoss Division of Red Hat, Rally Software, PeopleSoft, many more

OpenLogic, Inc.

SLA support, security updates, and indemnification for over 450 open source packages (including JBoss, GlassFish, Geronimo and Tomcat)

Governance and policy enforcement

Consulting services and training

Dozens of Fortune 500 customers

Background Application servers are strategic investments You are likely to use them for years to come In the past J2EE standard Selection based on “ -ilities” Maturity Value-add features beyond the standard

Application servers are strategic investments

You are likely to use them for years to come

In the past

J2EE standard

Selection based on

“ -ilities”

Maturity

Value-add features beyond the standard

Are you replacing proprietary application servers with open source application servers (check one)? Polling Results from Webinar Attandees

Are you replacing proprietary application servers with open source application servers (check one)?

Which open source application servers are your using or considering using (check all that apply)? Polling Results from Webinar Attandees

Which open source application servers are your using or considering using (check all that apply)?

J2EE Didn't Fill the Need EJB 2 is difficult to use Many people consider it unnecessary difficult Entity Beans were especially problematic But even session beans earned bad reputations The Open Source community responds OSS packages mitigating the problem Hibernate instead of Entity Beans Spring as a component model They were very successful in the marketplace Many Spring/Hibernate applications Required only Tomcat to run but also work in full app servers

EJB 2 is difficult to use

Many people consider it unnecessary difficult

Entity Beans were especially problematic

But even session beans earned bad reputations

The Open Source community responds

OSS packages mitigating the problem

Hibernate instead of Entity Beans

Spring as a component model

They were very successful in the marketplace

Many Spring/Hibernate applications

Required only Tomcat to run but also work in full app servers

When Tomcat Is Not Enough Tomcat doesn't support JMS EJBs Other... Enterprises need integration The more mature the app is, the more likely it is to be added Add-ons It was possible to add things that Tomcat was missing But this became a “build your own Frankenstein” exercise

Tomcat doesn't support

JMS

EJBs

Other...

Enterprises need integration

The more mature the app is, the more likely it is to be added

Add-ons

It was possible to add things that Tomcat was missing

But this became a “build your own Frankenstein” exercise

Java Enterprise Edition in the Meantime Weaknesses in EJB 2 model were recognized Work on new specification was completed J2EE -> JEE 5 EJB 2 -> EJB 3 Entity Beans -> JPA EJB 3 Simple annotation-based programming model Not everybody adopted EJB 3 JEE 6 will embrace modularity Profiles, including web profile

Weaknesses in EJB 2 model were recognized

Work on new specification was completed

J2EE -> JEE 5

EJB 2 -> EJB 3

Entity Beans -> JPA

EJB 3

Simple annotation-based programming model

Not everybody adopted EJB 3

JEE 6 will embrace modularity

Profiles, including web profile

Choices in 2007 Use Spring Start with full app server Start with Tomcat, build from there Use EJB 3 Requires full app servers Full application server Pros – everything you are likely to need, could use EJB Cons – complexity, might use more resources then Tomcat Tomcat Pros – small, simple, low resource usage Cons – you might need to build your own app server, no EJB

Use Spring

Start with full app server

Start with Tomcat, build from there

Use EJB 3

Requires full app servers

Full application server

Pros – everything you are likely to need, could use EJB

Cons – complexity, might use more resources then Tomcat

Tomcat

Pros – small, simple, low resource usage

Cons – you might need to build your own app server, no EJB

OSGi Started in 1999 Recently got a lot of exposure In particular, R 4.1 JSR-294 OSGi brings Dependency management and modularity Ability to load only parts it needs OSGi currently has a lot of mindshare

Started in 1999

Recently got a lot of exposure

In particular, R 4.1

JSR-294

OSGi brings

Dependency management and modularity

Ability to load only parts it needs

OSGi currently has a lot of mindshare

What Does This Mean For Me? Decisions, decisions EJB 3 or Spring Spring on dm Server or on J2EE/JEE server? OSGi or not OSGi Do I need EJB 2 compatibility? In addition, there are many “old” considerations Servers are not “all inclusive” EJB 3 apps won't work on SpringSource dm Server or Tomcat

Decisions, decisions

EJB 3 or Spring

Spring on dm Server or on J2EE/JEE server?

OSGi or not OSGi

Do I need EJB 2 compatibility?

In addition, there are many “old” considerations

Servers are not “all inclusive”

EJB 3 apps won't work on SpringSource dm Server or Tomcat

What are your reasons for using or considering open source application servers (check all that apply)? Polling Results from Webinar Attandees

What are your reasons for using or considering open source application servers (check all that apply)?

What is your biggest concern or challenge with using open source application servers (check one)? Polling Results from Webinar Attandees

What is your biggest concern or challenge with using open source application servers (check one)?

Contenders Make a decision about what functionality you need Evaluate the contenders JBoss GlassFish dm Server Geronimo Tomcat

Make a decision about what functionality you need

Evaluate the contenders

JBoss

GlassFish

dm Server

Geronimo

Tomcat

JBoss Started in 1999, incorporated in 2001 LGPL License Reasons for Success One of the first OSS app servers that was proven enough for production Good product Developers generally like it Fast startup and operations, easy configuration (for developers) Good standard support Modular architecture Possible to control amount of resources used

Started in 1999, incorporated in 2001

LGPL License

Reasons for Success

One of the first OSS app servers that was proven enough for production

Good product

Developers generally like it

Fast startup and operations, easy configuration (for developers)

Good standard support

Modular architecture

Possible to control amount of resources used

JBoss Thought Leadership Complete ecosystem Portal ESB BPM JBoss has history of innovation Pioneer of EJB 3 Seam Application Framework Web Beans OSGi Support in JBoss 5

Complete ecosystem

Portal

ESB

BPM

JBoss has history of innovation

Pioneer of EJB 3

Seam Application Framework

Web Beans

OSGi

Support in JBoss 5

JBoss in Production Dependability Excellent clustering and failover capability Reliable in production Monitoring and deployment capabilities Not really oriented toward system administration out of the box Command line/file edit flavor of configuration GUI tools (Tomcat manager and JMX Console) are fairly basic Excellent 3 rd party tools available for monitoring Hyperic GroundWork IT JON *

Dependability

Excellent clustering and failover capability

Reliable in production

Monitoring and deployment capabilities

Not really oriented toward system administration out of the box

Command line/file edit flavor of configuration

GUI tools (Tomcat manager and JMX Console) are fairly basic

Excellent 3 rd party tools available for monitoring

Hyperic

GroundWork IT

JON *

JBoss for Developers Excellent customizability JMX-based, don't deploy what you don't need Seam is worth a look for developers JDK 6 with 4.2.3 and 5.0 GA JDK 5 compiled binaries work on both JDK 5 and JDK 6 JBoss IDE Eclipse-based JBoss Tools Free version (RHDS is paid version)

Excellent customizability

JMX-based, don't deploy what you don't need

Seam is worth a look for developers

JDK 6 with 4.2.3 and 5.0 GA

JDK 5 compiled binaries work on both JDK 5 and JDK 6

JBoss IDE

Eclipse-based

JBoss Tools

Free version (RHDS is paid version)

JBoss - Conclusions Strengths Mature, scalable and reliable Good support for J2EE and EJB 3 Seam framework Weaknesses Limited GUI-based configuration in open source version LGPL License may be a concern for ISV's embedding app servers

Strengths

Mature, scalable and reliable

Good support for J2EE and EJB 3

Seam framework

Weaknesses

Limited GUI-based configuration in open source version

LGPL License may be a concern for ISV's embedding app servers

GlassFish Relatively new Launched in June 2005 JEE 5 support introduced in May 2006 Glassfish 2 September 2007 Clustering and enterprise capabilities Merged with Sun Java System Application Server CDDL License Huge interest First seven months of 2008 - 4.5 million downloads Compare to Spring Framework's 5 million downloads

Relatively new

Launched in June 2005

JEE 5 support introduced in May 2006

Glassfish 2

September 2007

Clustering and enterprise capabilities

Merged with Sun Java System Application Server

CDDL License

Huge interest

First seven months of 2008 - 4.5 million downloads

Compare to Spring Framework's 5 million downloads

GlassFish Thought Leadership JEE 5 certified Reference implementation Full support for EJB 3 OSGi is coming in version 3 Sun is a strong supporter of OSGi Good support for dynamic languages JRuby GoldSpike Grails

JEE 5 certified

Reference implementation

Full support for EJB 3

OSGi is coming in version 3

Sun is a strong supporter of OSGi

Good support for dynamic languages

JRuby

GoldSpike

Grails

Living with GlassFish IDE NetBeans-based Excellent support for GlassFish Support for Java 6 for a long time Sun has fairly large ecosystem (e.g., openESB) Relatively new Not as easy to hire expertise Good production capabilities Clustering Failover

IDE

NetBeans-based

Excellent support for GlassFish

Support for Java 6 for a long time

Sun has fairly large ecosystem (e.g., openESB)

Relatively new

Not as easy to hire expertise

Good production capabilities

Clustering

Failover

GlassFish – Conclusions Strengths Good support for emerging standards Good heritage of code, based on a good application server Excellent support for dynamic languages Weaknesses Less widely used than JBoss Relatively new

Strengths

Good support for emerging standards

Good heritage of code, based on a good application server

Excellent support for dynamic languages

Weaknesses

Less widely used than JBoss

Relatively new

SpringSource dm Server Newcomer Released in April of 2008 GPL license Incorporates many mature components Spring Framework Tomcat Equinox dm Server users are very early adopters Different take on app server OSGi support No support for EJB No JMS out of the box

Newcomer

Released in April of 2008

GPL license

Incorporates many mature components

Spring Framework

Tomcat

Equinox

dm Server users are very early adopters

Different take on app server

OSGi support

No support for EJB

No JMS out of the box

dm Server Thought Leadership OSGi-based Good OSGi implementation OSGi discussed a lot in their documentation No support for EJB No support for EJB 3 or old EJB 2 spec Spring offers similar functionality to Seam Which is somewhat more mature Although some of the Seam ideas might be somewhat more powerful Bijection

OSGi-based

Good OSGi implementation

OSGi discussed a lot in their documentation

No support for EJB

No support for EJB 3 or old EJB 2 spec

Spring offers similar functionality to Seam

Which is somewhat more mature

Although some of the Seam ideas might be somewhat more powerful

Bijection

dm Server for Developers Server works well with Spring Framework IDE Spring IDE - IDE for Eclipse platform Support for NetBeans and IntelliJ OSGi support Resolves “dependency hell” But requires application migration to take advantage of it Supports Java 5 and 6

Server works well with Spring Framework

IDE

Spring IDE - IDE for Eclipse platform

Support for NetBeans and IntelliJ

OSGi support

Resolves “dependency hell”

But requires application migration to take advantage of it

Supports Java 5 and 6

dm Server - Conclusions Strengths Support for Spring Framework Support for OSGi Weaknesses Newcomer No EJB Limited experience among workforce

Strengths

Support for Spring Framework

Support for OSGi

Weaknesses

Newcomer

No EJB

Limited experience among workforce

Geronimo Supported by IBM WSCE based on Geronimo announced in October 2005 JEE 5 certified Full support for EJB 3 Apache licensed

Supported by IBM

WSCE based on Geronimo announced in October 2005

JEE 5 certified

Full support for EJB 3

Apache licensed

Geronimo Details Capabilities Clustering GBeans and IoC Built-in frameworks (ActiveMQ, Spring) Less often used than others (like JBoss) on large deployments Certified on Java 5 Works with Java 6 IDE support GEP, MyEclipse

Capabilities

Clustering

GBeans and IoC

Built-in frameworks (ActiveMQ, Spring)

Less often used than others (like JBoss) on large deployments

Certified on Java 5

Works with Java 6

IDE support

GEP, MyEclipse

Geronimo – Conclusions Strengths Apache licensed JEE certified with full EJB 3 support Sponsored by IBM Weaknesses Not as widely used in production as other servers Less usage means that it is more difficult to find people who are experts in it Smaller ecosystem than others (like JBoss) Although WAS and WSCE share the same name, they do not share the same code

Strengths

Apache licensed

JEE certified with full EJB 3 support

Sponsored by IBM

Weaknesses

Not as widely used in production as other servers

Less usage means that it is more difficult to find people who are experts in it

Smaller ecosystem than others (like JBoss)

Although WAS and WSCE share the same name, they do not share the same code

Tomcat First release (3.0.x) in 1999 Apache license Servlet container Lightweight server Used in many other app servers JBoss dm Server Geronimo

First release (3.0.x) in 1999

Apache license

Servlet container

Lightweight server

Used in many other app servers

JBoss

dm Server

Geronimo

Tomcat in Development and Production Tomcat 6 supports Clustering Failover Widely used for both development and production Supported in most popular IDEs

Tomcat 6 supports

Clustering

Failover

Widely used for both development and production

Supported in most popular IDEs

Tomcat – Conclusions Strengths Lightweight Well known and tested Fast startup/deployment for development Weaknesses No support for EJB, JMS or almost anything else outside of “web side”

Strengths

Lightweight

Well known and tested

Fast startup/deployment for development

Weaknesses

No support for EJB, JMS or almost anything else outside of “web side”

Conclusions App servers are not just about the JEE specs Make some high-level decisions before evaluation Do I need EJB 2 compatibility? Do I intend to follow EJB 3 and other industry standards? Do I need something fast, lightweight, and easy to use? Do I have a need for lifecycle management of server components (through OSGi)? Do I need support for dynamic languages like Groovy and JRuby? Am I an early adopter of new technology?

App servers are not just about the JEE specs

Make some high-level decisions before evaluation

Do I need EJB 2 compatibility?

Do I intend to follow EJB 3 and other industry standards?

Do I need something fast, lightweight, and easy to use?

Do I have a need for lifecycle management of server components (through OSGi)?

Do I need support for dynamic languages like Groovy and JRuby?

Am I an early adopter of new technology?

Recommendations “ I’m using EJBs and I’m conservative” JBoss, GlassFish “ I don't need XA/JMS/EJB” Tomcat, JBoss, GlassFish, dm Server “ I’m using Spring” Conservative - JBoss, Tomcat, GlassFish Leading edge - dm Server “ I need to embed an app server in my commercial code” Tomcat, Geronimo

“ I’m using EJBs and I’m conservative”

JBoss, GlassFish

“ I don't need XA/JMS/EJB”

Tomcat, JBoss, GlassFish, dm Server

“ I’m using Spring”

Conservative - JBoss, Tomcat, GlassFish

Leading edge - dm Server

“ I need to embed an app server in my commercial code”

Tomcat, Geronimo

Recommendations (continued) “ I use Spring heavily and I need OSGi” I need it today and don't need EJBs - dm Server I need it soon and/or need EJBs – GlassFish, JBoss “ I use Seam” JBoss “ I want ActiveMQ/Spring/Hibernate preinstalled” Geronimo “ I need dynamic language support” Groovy/Grails – dm Server, JBoss, GlassFish JRuby/Rails - GlassFish, Geronimo

“ I use Spring heavily and I need OSGi”

I need it today and don't need EJBs - dm Server

I need it soon and/or need EJBs – GlassFish, JBoss

“ I use Seam”

JBoss

“ I want ActiveMQ/Spring/Hibernate preinstalled”

Geronimo

“ I need dynamic language support”

Groovy/Grails – dm Server, JBoss, GlassFish

JRuby/Rails - GlassFish, Geronimo

Which non-Java based server technologies are used in your enterprise (check all that apply)? Polling Results from Webinar Attandees

Which non-Java based server technologies are used in your enterprise (check all that apply)?

Q & A Any questions?

Any questions?

Contact Information Rod Cope: [email_address] Veljko Krunic: [email_address] __________________________________________________________________________________________ Download the webinar recording and slides: www.openlogic.com/downloads/webinars.php Get a quote on technical support for open source: www.openlogic.com/products/support.php Get a quote on training & professional services for open source: www.openlogic.com/products/open-source-services.php

Rod Cope: [email_address]

Veljko Krunic: [email_address]

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Download the webinar recording and slides:

www.openlogic.com/downloads/webinars.php

Get a quote on technical support for open source:

www.openlogic.com/products/support.php

Get a quote on training & professional services for open source: www.openlogic.com/products/open-source-services.php