Expersoft Announces PowerBroker; First Object Request Broker To Integrate CORBA 2.0, C++, Smalltalk and OLE 2.0.SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1995--Today, Expersoft Corporation unveiled the PowerBroker 4.0 suite of products, its next generation object request broker See ORB. (programming) Object Request Broker - (ORB) Part of the OMG CORBA specification, an ORB's basic function is to pass method invocation requests to the correct objects and return the results to the caller. (ORB) and object management environment. PowerBroker 4.0 is the first suite of integrated object management products that deliver CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) A software-based interface from the Object Management Group (OMG) that allows software modules (objects) to communicate with each other no matter where they are located on a private network or the global 2.0, OLE 2.0, Visual Basic, Smalltalk, and C++ interoperability, as well as CORBA Services 1.0. Built upon Expersoft's high performance XShell 3.5 object management solution, PowerBroker 4.0 delivers proven enterprise scalability, robust object management services, and integration with third party components. Unlike simple object request brokers, PowerBroker is a complete object management solution comprising an ORB, CORBA Services (Lifecycle, Events, Persistence, Externalization The ability to easily connect to and transfer information between business partners. Increasingly, information systems are designed to make their data available to outside partners and customers. This type of collaboration is expected to be a vital part of IT in the 21st century. See EDI. , and Naming), and management tools. At PowerBroker's core is an architecturally advanced "Meta" object request broker that creates a powerful network-wide operating environment In computing, an operating environment is the environment in which users run programs, whether in a command line interface, such as in MS-DOS or the Unix shell, or in a graphical user interface, such as in the Macintosh operating system. for distributed object Distributed objects are software modules that are designed to work together, but reside either in multiple computers connected via a network or in different processes inside the same computer. execution, communication, and management in heterogeneous language and platform environments. Using CORBA IDL (1) (Interface Definition Language) A language used to describe the interface to a routine or function. For example, objects in the CORBA distributed object environment are defined by an IDL, which describes the services performed by the object and how the data , this "Meta" ORB hides the differences of the various object models, allowing developers to concentrate on adding business value to applications rather than on cross-platform API differences. "PowerBroker further demonstrates Expersoft's commitment to offering customers the broadest open systems choices including standards and platforms while at the same time delivering the most robust object management solution in the industry," said Tom Clancy, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Expersoft. "PowerBroker's CORBA, OLE, Smalltalk, and C++ support allows customers to build or acquire application components implemented in their languages of choice, assemble them into distributed applications using standard interfaces, and deploy them cross platform, significantly reducing implementation cost and time to market." PowerBroker Business Benefits According to industry analysts at Stamford-Conn. based META Group, object technology is being recognized as a highly-effective computing environment for large, mission-critical applications. Major applications are being deployed using this technology in banks and financial institutions, telecommunication and utility companies, and government and defense contractors. Expersoft's customers include: Andersen Consulting, Chemical Bank, Goldman Sachs, KPMG KPMG Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (accounting firm) KPMG Kaiser Permanente Medical Group KPMG Keiner Prüft Mehr Genau (German) KPMG Kommen Prüfen Meckern Gehen , Raytheon, Sprint Corp., TV/COM and US West. "While this technology is still in an early phase, leading edge developers at financial and other institutions are beginning to ramp up Ramp Up To increase a company's operations in anticipation of increased demand. Notes: A company might 'ramp up' operations if they just signed a contract creating substantially more demand for their product. See also: Demand, Economies of Scale the size and range of applications using ORBs," said Melinda-Carol Ballou, senior analyst at META Group, Inc. "We expect that CORBA-compliant ORBs will play a significant role in distributing applications across multiple platforms and operating systems, along with other middleware." PowerBroker CORBA PowerBroker CORBA delivers the full CORBA 2.0 feature set including: -- IDL / C++ Language Mapping -- IDL / Smalltalk Language Mapping -- Interface Repository 2.0 with Browser -- Dynamic Invocation Interface The Dynamic Invocation Interface (DII) (DII) is an API which allows dynamic construction of CORBA object invocations. It is used at compile time when a client does not have knowledge about the object it wants to invoke. -- Dynamic Skeleton Interface -- Interoperability Protocols Additionally, PowerBroker delivers CORBA Services including: -- Lifecycle -- Persistence -- Events -- Naming -- Externalization The PowerBroker CORBA implementation is an extension of Expersoft's XShell 3.5 product, capitalizing upon its maturity and demonstrated stability in large customer installations. PowerBroker offers three compatible programming models. These models may be used independently or together, offering developers the flexibility to choose the most suitable programming model for each project. These models are: -- PowerBroker CORBA C++, a CORBA compliant environment with C++ language mappings; -- PowerBroker CORBA Smalltalk, a CORBA compliant environment with Smalltalk language mappings; and, -- PowerBroker Extended C++, a C++ centric programming model. PowerBroker OLE PowerBroker OLE automates the interaction between PowerBroker objects and OLE automation clients. Using CORBA IDL specifications stored in the PowerBroker Interface Repository, OLE automation interfaces are generated for PowerBroker application and system services. These interface definitions may be imported into Visual C++, Visual Basic, or productivity tools to build OLE clients. At application deployment, PowerBroker provides all the necessary services to integrate OLE clients with PowerBroker services. According to Expersoft's Chief Technology Officer David Curtis, "We've always been recognized in the industry as having the most solid, scalable, high-performance ORB that can be used for serious applications in C++. By providing well-integrated Smalltalk and OLE Automation interfaces, PowerBroker makes the power and flexibility of a real distributed object system available to a much wider range of users." Other Value Added Value Added The enhancement a company gives its product or service before offering the product to customers. Notes: This can either increase the products price or value. Features and Services PowerBroker delivers the features and services required to build, deploy, and manage mission critical object based applications. To provide scalability and premier performance, PowerBroker supports: -- Replicated Services -- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. Management -- Object Management PowerBroker also supports the capability to express CORBA object references in the format of Internet Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), the common format used on the Internet and World Wide Web to locate and contact services. This feature makes it easy to build applications and services with PowerBroker that can be accessible across open, wide-area networks such as the Internet. Scalable Deployment PowerBroker supports applications on any scale, from embedded, workgroup and departmental implementations to the enterprise. PowerBroker components may be purchased individually or as a suite giving customers the ability to "right size" their purchasing decision to their business need. Consequently, as workgroup or departmental applications expand to meet the needs of growing organizations, customers may incrementally add capabilities to meet their needs. Platforms PowerBroker technology is available across the most popular platforms: SunSoft Solaris 1 and Solaris 2, Hewlett-Packard HP/UX HP/UX Hewlett-Packard UNIX operating system HP/UX Unexploded Human Particulate Operating System , IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive) IBM's Unix-based operating system which runs on its Intellistation workstations and pSeries, p5, iSeries and i5 server families. , SGI (SGI, Sunnyvale, CA, www.sgi.com) A manufacturer of workstations and servers, founded in 1982 by Jim Clark. The company was founded as Silicon Graphics, Inc., but changed to its acronym in 1999. IRIX A Unix-based operating system from SGI that is used in its computer systems from desktop to supercomputer. It is an enhanced version of Unix System V Release 4. IRIX integrates the X Window system with OpenGL, creating the first real time 3D X environment. , Digital UNIX for Alpha, Microsoft Windows (client only) and Microsoft Windows NT. About Expersoft Established in 1989, Expersoft develops and markets PowerBroker, a distributed object management environment comprising the standards-based PowerBroker ORB, object services and a suite of object management tools. PowerBroker is available directly from Expersoft, as well as through system integrators, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers around the world. Expersoft customers include: Andersen Consulting, Chemical Bank, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, Ontario Hydro, Raytheon, Sprint and US West. The company is headquartered in San Diego and has offices throughout North America and Europe. -0- Note to Editors: Expersoft and XShell are registered trademarks of Expersoft Corporation. PowerBroker is a trademark of Expersoft Corporation. CONTACT: Expersoft Corporation, San Diego Mike Parker, 619/546-4100 or The Horn Group Susan Rozmanith or Elizabeth Orgel, 415/579-6400 |
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