Cast Iron Systems this week released two new appliances for data-integration projects, with one designed to provide a high-availability fail-over option.
The application-integration company's new Application Router 3000 and Application Router 3000 High-Availability Pair are alternative data-integration solutions to EAI software from vendors such as IBM, Tibco, Webmethods, and Informatica.
The two new appliances, which have been re-sized into one-rack units, include the capability to connect to SAP applications using the IDoc format, new workflow capabilities, an improved Web-based management console and runtime editors, and a new version of the Linux-based operating system with increased performance, according to Fred Meyer, CEO and president of Cast Iron.
"We are committed to delivering solutions that help our customers respond ever faster to the integration needs of their business while cutting costs," he said. "The new AR3000 and AR3000 HA products do precisely that."
The Application Router 3000 and the Application Router 3000 High-Availability machines include software that helps companies integrate disparate applications. "We also have a new user interface that makes the system much easier to use and allows users to view all business-level transactions and resolve issues on one console," Meyer said.
Other features include guaranteed message delivery and failure notifications to help with purchase-order acknowledgement and content-based data routing, he said.
The Application Router 3000 includes a set of design tools that map connections between applications. The router handles protocol and data-format conversion using XML and C++ to optimize performance, workflow, and lightweight routing.
The 3000 High-Availability version is actually two routers combined into a single unit to allow users to survive the failure of an entire appliance.
The Application Router 3000 starts at US$100,000, while the High-Availability version is US$175,000. Both are available now.
