Lesson 4 | Data integration middleware |
Objective | Describe data integration middleware. |
What is data integration middleware?
Data integration middleware provides a layer of services that allow applications and development tools to view different underlying data
structures and data sources as a single data source. This means that an application or a developer is not affected by physical implementation of
data structure. In other words, a table can be in an Oracle, Sybase, or Informix database, but to the application or developer, it simply looks like a database
table. In fact, data integration middleware can make multiple tables look as if they are a single table. Like middleware in general, data
integration middleware abstracts the details of underlying constructs, in this case data constructs, to make it easier for the layer of software
above it to use the constructs.
Another type of data integration tools is known as a "SQL gateway." Much like a gateway used in networking to tie together disparate networks,
an SQL gateway hides underlying physical differences to data sources from the data requestor, and manages database connections. Thus, the SQL
Gateway:
- Parses an incoming request for data
- Looks to see if the appropriate database(s) is (are) connected
- Allocates a connection if necessary, forwards the query, buffers the results, and forwards them back to the query source
SQL gateways are particularly useful when dealing with B2C applications that have a high number of temporarily connected users, and possess
heterogeneous database sources. Many application servers now possess a similar form of SQL gateway functionality, such as shared connection pooling, and abstraction from underlying physical database implementations.
SQL gateways were important in early CGI-based Web applications, but are slowly being replaced by application servers.
Data integration middleware considerations
Data integration middleware is most often used to tie together two tier applications (user tier to database, or middle tier to database), and do
not offer transactional capabilities. They do, however, simplify heterogeneous data environments.
Native calls
The performance and reliability of data integration middleware has matured, and is now considered a viable alternative for virtually any
solution versus native calls. Native calls are requests to a database engine that make use of the particular semantics of the database engine.
Business to Consumer (B2C): Commerce is conducted between a consumer, such as a home user on a PC and a business.