About Portal Server

Portal Server is a component of the Sun Java Enterprise System technology. Sun Java Enterprise System technology supports a wide range of enterprise computing needs, such as creating a secure intranet portal to provide the employees of an enterprise with secure access to email and in-house business applications.

The Portal Server product is an identity-enabled portal server solution. It provides all the user, policy, and identity management to enforce security, web application single sign-on (SSO), and access capabilities to end user communities. In addition, Portal Server combines portal services, such as personalization, aggregation, security, integration, and search. Unique capabilities that enable secure remote access to internal resources and applications round out a complete portal platform for deploying business-to-employee, business-to-business, and business-to-consumer portals. Sun Java System Portal Server Secure Remote Access provides secure remote access capabilities to access web- and non-web enabled resources.

Each enterprise assesses its own needs and plans its own deployment of Java Enterprise System technology. The optimal deployment for each enterprise depends on the type of applications that Java Enterprise System technology supports, the number of users, the kind of hardware that is available, and other considerations of this type.

Portal Server is able to work with previously installed software components. In this case, Portal Server uses the installed software when the software is an appropriate version.

Portal Server runs in open mode or secure mode. In secure mode, it uses Secure Remote Access. The main difference between an open portal and a secure portal is that the services presented by the open portal typically reside within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and not within the secured intranet. Secure Remote Access offers browser-based secure access to portal content and services from any remote browser enabled with Java technology. Integration with Portal Server software ensures that users receive secure encrypted access to the content and services that users have permission to access.

Secure Remote Access is targeted toward enterprises deploying highly secure remote access portals. These portals emphasize security, protection, and privacy of intranet resources. The Secure Remote Access services–Access List, the Gateway, NetFile, Netlet, and Proxylet– enable users to securely access intranet resources through the Internet without exposing these resources to the Internet.