About Portal Server Software

Portal Server allows administrators and delegated administrators to build portal pages and to make them available to individuals throughout an enterprise according to user identities. The Desktop is the interface that the end user accesses to view the content for a portal site.

The product is a component of the Sun Java^TM Enterprise System (Java ES), a software system that supports a wide range of enterprise computing needs.

Portal Server provides a framework and a set of software modules that offer the following:

• Security

• Mobility

• Identity-based content delivery

• Collaboration

• Business system integration

Portal Server's core framework supports the Java Specification Request (JSR) 168 Portlet Specification standard and the web services for remote portlets (WSRP) 1.0 specification for portal content. Portlet developers can use the Sun Java Studio Creator 2 application development tool or open standard tools to build portlets. Portal administrators can then leverage portlets, WSRP consumers, or additional portal tools for adding content to portal pages.

Portal Server is available in two editions:

• Enterprise edition is recommended for production environments. This edition provides the flexibility to create any supported deployment configuration. The enterprise edition supports Portal Server patch updates.

• Developer edition is recommended for product evaluations and for developers. The developer edition provides scripts that offer the following:

  • Easy startup and shutdown of all components and services associated with Portal Server

  • Fewer required user inputs

  • Simplified configuration processes

A Portal Server installation includes the following:

• Portal Server infrastructure (components are installed separately)

  • Sun Java System Directory Server 6.0

  • A web container, such as Sun Java System Application Server 9.1 (enterprise and developer editions) or GlassFish^TM (enterprise edition)

  • Sun Java System Access Manager 7.1 for identity and user management, including authentication, authorization, and federation

• Sun Portal Server 7.2, including Sun Java System Portal Sever Secure Remote Access

  • A portal server

  • A search server

  • A wiki based on JSPWiki.org

  • A management console

  • Pre-installed portlets and content providers

  • Sample enterprise portal and Desktop

• Java DB 10.3, Sun's supported distribution of the open source Apache Derby database, to support collaboration, or another supported database, such as one from Oracle, Inc.

• Java SDK 5 and 1.6.0_05, for applications development

• Common Agent Container 2.2, a stand-alone program that implements a container for Java management applications

Portal Server works with previously installed software components as long as the software is an appropriate version. For more information about product requirements, see Checking Hardware and Software Requirements Before Installing Portal Server 7.2 in Sun Java System Portal Server 7.2 Installation and Configuration Guide.