Apologies for the messy stuff in this page. I am trying to find out what it is. Hopefully someone will describe this animal better with more useful details. It appears to be a heavyweight contender as a development platform though.

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NetWeaver is a development platform from SapCorporation (the top EnterpriseResourcePlanning firm) that debuted in 2003 (see http://web.archive.org/web/20030119120846/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030116/sfth044a_1.html). Although primarily a JavaPlatform product (via WebSphere) , it claim interoperability with MicrosoftDotNet.

SapCorporation is said to have close relationships with MicrosoftCorporation, SAP NetWeaver appeared in DotNet roadshows, and the company was considered as a merger partner by the Redmond giant.

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'''Resources ''' 

General info on the NetWeaver''''''Platform at http://www.cxotoday.com/cxo/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=2798&cat_id=911

SAP portal product for DotNet at http://www.theserverside.net/news/thread.tss?thread_id=31096

SAP tells developer to focus on Business at http://www.idevnews.com/IntegrationNews.asp?ID=123

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'''From ''NetWeaver Master Guide 04 version'''''

see http://help.sap.com/nw04, http://service.sap.com/network, "SAP NetWeaver Security Guide"

''N''''''etWeaver is the technical foundation for mySAP Business Suite and SAP xApps solutions...''

''MicrosoftDotNet, Sun JavaTwoEnterpriseEdition (J2EE), IBM WebSphere''

Adobe PF 6 interactive forms inclusion in "Web Dynpro" and "NetWeaver Developer Studio" meant SAP applications can drive business processes using PDF documents.



Scenarios include: 
* SAP BW - supports Crystal Enterprise SAP edition version 10
* SAP BI Information Broadcasting
* SAP EP (Enterprise Portal)
* SAP XI (SAP Exchange Infrastructure)
* SAP MI (Mobile Infrastructure)
* SAP KW (Knowledge Warehouse) - Arbortext Epic or Altova Authentic xml editors supported
* SAP N''''''etWeaver Development Environment
* SAP MDM (Master Data Management)

Installable components include (AS means "Application Server")
* Web AS ABAP 6.40 with BW server 3.5, IGS 6.40 and PI_BASIS 6.40
* Web AS Java 6.40 with J2EE engine, SAP Java Connector, SAP Java Tech Services
* SAP GUI 6.20 or 6.40

''N''''''etWeaver perspective on Software components''

* '''Collaboration''' via collaboration rooms that are populated with elements from SAP Enterprise portal. Can integrate groupware (Exchange, notes) and synchronous collaboration tools such as "Web Ex".
** real-time: appln sharing, chat, instant messaging
** async: tasks, calendar, discussions
* '''Knowledge Management''' access to unstructured documents in repositories connected to portal, via "repository managers". APIs available to develop customized repository managers. 
** Content Management. life-cycle management of documents. Has collaboration features like feedback, rating, subscription
** TREX search and classification, for text mining. TRES is used in SAP BW as well.
* '''Business Information Warehouse''' is a core component and includes warehousing, business intelligence, tool called "Business Explorer". Manages the distribution of information as well, in accordance to different roles (BI Content).
** BI component includes OLAP, business planning and simulation, special processes like Data Mining and Reporting Agent.
** "Business Explorer" supports strategic analyses, operational reporting, and decision-making support.
* '''Enterprise Portal''' provides role based, secured web interface without installed client components. 
** iViews allows access for reading or operations (e.g. form submission). Has portal navigation, portal eventing. Preassembled iViews "business packages" available for download.
* '''XI Exchange Infrastructure''' integrates heterogeneous components from multiple vendors and technology environments. Capable of tying "shared business semantics" and mediate between services and technical realizations.
** Technical components include queuing, mapping and routing. Provides infrastructure for BPM
** Process integration without direct connection between processes. New components are plug-in and eliminate the cost of direct connections.
* ''' Knowledge warehouse ''' is the technical infrastructure to manage documentation, training and manuals in different media. Has facilities to model large company structures.
** ISO 9000 quality management template is available.
* '''Developer Studio ''' for development of multi-layered java based applications using EclipseIde. Also supports "Web Dynpro"?
** has deployment manager to connect to J2EE engine
* '''Java Development Infrastructure''' is intended for server-side services. 
** Design time repository for software versioning
** Component build Service for structuring applications and build from components
** Change Management Service for software life-cycle management
** Deployment Manager has manual or automated deployments
** System Landscape Directory 
** Name service
** Java dictionary
** SAP Java test tools
* '''Visual Composer''' for creating portal content via GUI
* '''User Management Engine''' provides centralized user management for all Java appln. Its data can be drawn from a combination of existing corporate directory, SAP Web AS ABAP system or database.
* '''Web Application Server''' was called SAP Basis and can be configured as AbapLanguage (ABAP) only, ABAP & Java, or Java only. 
** via Java Connector or .NET connector to link to components from the respective architectures. 
** ICF (Internet Communication Framework) allow direct ABAP programs to process and distribute HTTP requests.
** Can function either as HTTP clients or servers, and also SMTP based email send/receive.

'''ABAP Server'''

ABAP server includes Change and Transport System (CTS) that supports large development teams.

New Business Server Pages programming model available after R/3 4.6C release. The Web AS includes a Internet Communication Manager (ICM) that supports HTTP/HTTPS protocols.

A Transport Management System can be used to link up development, test and prod environments.

'''Java Applications'''

scenarios include:
* J2EE ( JSP/Servlet and EJB)
* Web Dynpro (MVC based application interface that can be connected to webservice)
* SAP JCo to access ABAP
* Development and integration of Web Service
** during development, web service can use UDDI as an option
** A platform specific proxy is generated using a WSDL file, and the generator will be concerned with the formulated of valid SOAP messages

'''Messaging in "Exchange Infrastructure"'''

Middleware technology include:
* Intermediate Documents (iDoc)
* Remote Function call (RFC)
* Text file
* JavaMessageService (JMC)
* JavaDatabaseConnectivity data access
* SoapProtocol
* RNIF
* Plain HTTP
* Marketplace Access
* Proxy-based messaging

'''Central SAP Administration and Monitoring System'''
* includes Computer Centre Management System to collect and handle alerts
* Web Administrator will progressively become the centralized administrator

''Solution Managers'' are used for operational management purposes.

Specialized toolsets for admin
* Wily Introscope Tool for performance and troubleshooting
* Mercury Interactive load generator

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Gunnar, it is not intended as spam, I am learning about significant application development platforms, and I would think after IBM and MS, this could be the next biggest, and I think it would be bigger than Sun's product offering. --dl

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CategoryEjb CategoryDotNet CategoryEnterpriseComputingConcerns