WebLogic Platform and AquaLogic Data Services Platform
Data services can be developed as a Workshop application or as a project within another type of Workshop application, such as a portal, web application, or business process. The runtime platform is WebLogic Server. AquaLogic Data Services Platform leverages WebLogic Server technologies such as scalability and clustering, and the full array of J2EE features and services. It operates seamlessly with other applications running in a WebLogic Server.
Client applications using AquaLogic Data Services Platform services need only establish an initial context to the WebLogic Server where AquaLogic Data Services Platform is deployed. This context — a JNDI mechanism for identifying a resource on a network — is similar to a database connection in that it identifies the server location and includes any required connection parameters, such as user names and passwords.
Once the initial context is established, the client can instantiate data services and use them to get and update information. For complete information on BEA WebLogic Server, see WebLogic Server documentation at the following URL:
As shown in Figure 2-1, AquaLogic Data Services Platform provides a data integration layer between data sources and data users.
The core of the AquaLogic Data Services Platform runtime component is the data processing engine. It is a distributed query processor that divides user requests into optimized sub-queries which, as possible, are processed concurrently against the data sources. The core is supplemented by security and caching components and interfaces for acquiring and delivering information, as described further in the following section.
Figure 2-1 AquaLogic Data Services Platform Components Architecture
AquaLogic Data Services Platform Components
As depicted in Figure 2-1, the components and features of AquaLogic Data Services Platform include:
Data Processing Engine. The XQuery data processing engine is optimized for distributed data access to databases, Web services, and files.
Cache. By caching frequently accessed data to a database, you can improve response time and reduce the load on back-end resources. For more information, see Performance and Caching.
Security. In addition to taking advantage of security features of the underlying WebLogic server, AquaLogic Data Services Platform lets you set read and update permissions for functions. For more information, see Securing Enterprise Data.
Client API. Application developers have several options for accessing data. The Service Data Objects (SDO) API allows client applications to read and update the data through a typed or untyped interface. Query-oriented access is supported through an ad hoc query mechanism. In addition, the AquaLogic Data Services Platform JDBC driver enables JDBC clients, including SQL tools, to access information provided by AquaLogic Data Services Platform services.
Data source API. AquaLogic Data Services Platform supports many data source types, including:
Relational sources
Web services
XML files
Delimited files
Custom Java functions
AquaLogic Data Services Platform Console. The AquaLogic Data Services Console allows you to manage function caching and security access, as well as internal server behavior such as thread usage and memory. It provides usage statistics regarding data services, as well as auditing and logging of the runtime engine.
Design Tools. AquaLogic Data Services Platform includes tools for creating the data services layer, including developing data services, modeling, and creating XQuery functions. For more information, see Unifying Information with Data Services.
