Oracle Application Server

The Oracle Application Server provides the middleware component of the Oracle Internet Platform and delivers and manages applications and data requested by client browsers. The two other components of the Oracle Internet Platform are the Oracle Database and the Oracle Internet Developer Suite. The Application Server is supplied in two versions, Standard, and Enterprise, with the Enterprise version offering additional Wireless (previously known as Portal-To-Go) and Personalization options.

With the Application Server, Oracle seeks to provide multiple features and capabilities that are commonly supplied via separate products. Key features include a built-in middle-tier caching module, which allows the server to deliver commonly requested data directly to the client without placing a full query to the database or needing a separate caching product; a built in and integrated Web server based on Apache; and the Oracle Enterprise Manager, offering a single console for the management of the data and applications controlled by the server. Later releases of Oracle AS include business intelligence features that provide ad-hoc query features to non-technical users using only their Web browsers; built-in workflow and application integration features; E-Mail collaboration tools allowing companies to add E-Mail functionality directly into their applications; and built-in LDAP services for the centralization of user identity, access, and authentication management.

The Oracle Application Server is available now; Contact Oracle Sales for current pricing and further information. (Some features described in this briefing may not be available in all versions; see the Oracle Web site for full details.)