Introducing WebSphere Application Server Edge components
WebSphere® is Internet infrastructure software that enables companies to develop, deploy, and integrate next-generation e-business applications such as those for business-to-business e-commerce. WebSphere middleware supports business applications from simple Web publishing through enterprise-scale transaction processing.
As the foundation of the WebSphere platform, WebSphere Application Server offers a comprehensive set of middleware that enables users to design, implement, deploy, and manage business applications. These applications could be a simple Web site storefront to a more complex tasks, like a complete revision of an organization's computing infrastructure.
Processor-intensive features, such as personalization, offer a competitive advantage to every e-business. However, habitually relegating these features to central servers can prevent valuable functions from scaling to Internet proportions. Consequently, with the constant addition of new Web applications, a business's Internet infrastructure must grow in scope and impact. In addition, reliability and security are extraordinarily important to an e-business. Even a minimal service disruption can result in a loss of business.
Edge Components (formerly Edge Server) are now a part of the WebSphere Application Server offering. Edge Components can be used in conjunction with WebSphere Application Server to control client access to Web servers and to enable business enterprises to provide better service to users who access Web-based content over the Internet or a corporate intranet. Using Edge Components can reduce Web server congestion, increase content availability, and improve Web server performance. As the name indicates, Edge Components usually run on machines that are close (in a network configuration sense) to the boundary between an enterprise's intranet and the Internet.
The WebSphere Application Server includes the Caching Proxy and Load Balancer Edge components.