App Connect

App Connect

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  • 1.  IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Wed August 15, 2018 11:09 PM
    I am working on a project where I'm selecting an iPaaS solution for an eCommerce implementation. We'll be hosting the integration runtime and eCommerce platforms in the cloud and integrating with on-prem systems. We're mostly looking at file transfer (typical for product loads in the eCommerce world), RESTful services and ETL. As we're going through the product selection process, we're evaluating IBM App Connect Enterprise, Mule and Dell Boomi. I'm certified in IIB 10, but ACE seems like a drastic departure.

    If you have any hidden gotchas, I'd definitely be interested in hearing what others have learned from past projects.

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    Jeff Zeha
    BlueSky Technology Partners
    IN
    2195087758
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  • 2.  RE: IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Thu August 16, 2018 01:55 AM
    Depends on how you view ACE, you can use it pretty much the same way you'd use a stand-alone IIB.
    DELL Boomi I'd say is more of a B2B/B2C platform and not so focused on eCommerce and for Mule, you can probably do pretty much the same in Mule as in IIB.

    You will however get some more useful bells and whistles using ACE IMO...

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    Anders
    IBM Champion, Cloud
    Enfo Sweden, Stockholm
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Thu August 16, 2018 03:48 AM
    Jeff,
    Don't despair. ACE has a coming fix pack that should make it much more like IIB (reintroduction of the node concept). Also I believe that IIB 10.0.0.12 is capable of integrating with App Connect Entreprise.
    So with this you should be mostly covered. Now if you prefer the new ACE model, it is mostly geared towards a cloud / docker / driven approach where each integration service becomes a service running in a cloud. Otherwise not much change from the programing model of IIB except the expanded cloud capabilities of App Connect Enterprise.

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    Francois Brandelik

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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Thu August 16, 2018 05:18 AM
    First fix for the ACE, v11.0.0.1 has been released 2 days ago. It brings "Technical Preview code that enables users to create integration nodes by using the mqsicreatebroker command" (see here https://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27050926). As it is technical preview I would wait a fixpack or two until this is finished and released as production grade feature. If Jeff targets cloud and would like to go with cloud native approach and especially if cloud connectors are important I would go with ACE. Otherwise if more traditional "pet" approach is what he is looking for I would still put my money on proven IIB v10.  Francois already mentioned that coding is very similar. Migration (when time is right) should be easy.
    Good luck what ever you choose.

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    Miroslav Rešetar
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Thu August 16, 2018 12:35 PM
    ​Hi Jeff,

    I'm very pleased to hear that IIB/ACE are in the mix for consideration for your project, and I would obviously be keen to understand some more about what's behind your comment that ACE is a drastic departure from IIBv10. It's certainly true that we have re-architected some parts of the product to make it much more amenable to run in containers, but we've tried to do this in a sensitive way so we can keep on board those who aren't quite ready to go to containers and are perfectly happy with running the product on the metal or in VMs etc. Of course, when we initially delivered ACEv11 back in March, we didn't have the integration node concept in the product, but as of earlier this week and the release of ACEv11.0.0.1 the node concept has returned (initially classified as Tech Preview, but we don't expect this to be for long). It would be worth checking out our this new blog entry (https://developer.ibm.com/integration/blog/2018/08/14/explore-new-features-app-connect-enterprise-version-11-0-0-1/) and updated FAQ page (https://developer.ibm.com/integration/docs/app-connect-enterprise/faq/) if you haven't already done so as they provide more details on these aspects.

    As part of the ACEv11.0.0.1 delivery we've also provided the mqsiextractcomponents command (which is broadly equivalent to the old mqsimigratecomponents command) to help with IIB migration scenarios and also added back in more of the commands that IIBv10 integration node users know and love.  Of course, the same message flows, applications, libraries etc. which folks have invested in creating with IIBv10 can also be brought forward into v11 as well. So, as architect for the product I'd like to persuade you that whilst much has changed (improved!) in the new release, there are plenty of reasons why those who are familiar with the v10 product shouldn't necessarily see this as a drastic departure in a bad way ;o)

    Cheers,
    Ben

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    Ben Thompson
    Chief Architect App Connect Enterprise
    IBM UK
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Thu August 16, 2018 02:08 PM
    Whenever there is rebranding, there is confusion in product names.  When IBM went from MQSeries Integrator to WebSphere Message Broker, we had these same conversations;-)  In the not so far past, the product was rebranded once again to IBM Integration Bus ("IIB"), and now more recently as App Connect Enterprise ("ACE") (NOT to be further confused with App Connect Professional, or API Connect - which are both completely different product capabilities altogether - though loosely coupled into the same product family by namesake only).  It is important to first know that the above names are all talking about the same great IBM integration product in many renditions of evolution for almost 20 years of improvements in software design and integration capability - existing even before SOA was coined. 

    Going out on a limb here, but I wouldn't even consider listing MuleSoft as a contender outside of any integration that involves needs outside of straight Java or making web service calls, certainly not for any end-to-end integration that requires the coordination of a global unit of work or the handling of large messages that require segmentation.  I don't consider the current version even in the same category as the IBM integration power engine known as IIB or what is now release in 2018 as ACE because it just lacks solutioning capability for those basic service design requirements that most application integration customers have.  The MuleSoft's design is built on Java messaging service standards (JMS) which were created long after the IBM product and its higher standards were already developed and in commercial use.  Outside of the IBM products, competitors have limited integration capability with non-Java based technical platforms such as Microsoft's .NET, AS400 and any other IBM/Unisys/Bull/Tandem/DEC and other well-known Mainframe systems.  Such platforms are still heavily in existence today running programs that make their company's bottom line florish.  Such product limitations will definitely puts a kabosh on serious Legacy integration challenges - which you may not have today, but you definitely could in the next merger/acquisition of your company.  MuleSoft and any Java based products have many years to catch up to where IIB and ACE are today in terms of creating a true Service Oriented Architecture - with all the benefits thereof.   If you choose IIB/ACE today, you are already positioned and building skills that will take you many years into the future.  Just sayin' from practical experience with dozens of customer implementations;-)

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    Cindy Gregoire PMP
    Practice Manager
    TXMQ, Inc.
    Harris MN
    612-618-5988
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: IBM App Connect Enterprise vs. Mule and Dell Boomi

    Posted Fri August 17, 2018 03:50 AM
    HI,
    you might want to check out this blog post (disclosure: by me) IIB Becomes App Connect Enterprise: More Than Just a Name Change
    Lightwellinc remove preview
    IIB Becomes App Connect Enterprise: More Than Just a Name Change
    "App Connect" ring any bells at all? In case it doesn't, App Connect is an IBM integration product suite released a couple of years ago. Now, IBM has announced that IBM Integration Bus (IIB) V11.0 is now IBM App Connect Enterprise There's more to this than just a renaming of IIB-IBM has added in some IBM WebSphere Cast Iron capabilities and they've created a new IIB GUI as well.
    View this on Lightwellinc >


    I try to show how there's not much to be scared of when it comes to the latest rename (bless IBM for continually renaming all their products !). Yes, the containers is new but that's just because IBM are aiming at the larger enterprise.  There's an awful lot more to do in the container space until they become natural things to use for most customers (licensing is the key one for me!). Mule are also playing to that market in a different way (another disclosure from me: Simplifying Container Management with Kubernetes: Exploring IBM and MuleSoft Solutions

    Lightwellinc remove preview
    Simplifying Container Management with Kubernetes: Exploring IBM and MuleSoft Solutions
    Although the offerings I'm about to discuss are different, they're interesting enough to explore more closely. Both IBM and MuleSoft are claiming that the reason for implementing their solutions is because they perceive a lack of skills in containers and Kubernetes. This tallies with what I see in the world I work in too.
    View this on Lightwellinc >

    ) 
    In terms of the Mule comparison - I sell both and I would suggest that Mule is probably perfectly good for the 90% of cases. The latest release has changed parts of the engine - that would concern me given that it's supposed to be mature. It's also a very cloud centric platform (not an issue for you I suspect). Dell Boomi: I know little of, other than what I hear in the field which is that they sometimes over-promise. However, they do get a lot of sales in the states for sure ! Perhaps price and that they do most use-cases OK.

    IIB is, as always with a lot of IBM products, the creme de la creme of ESB's. Yes, it's big and hard sometimes but that's because it's designed with every possible scenario in mind. The addition of the new UI in APPConnect designer makes for a nice clean interface in the cloud world. However, it doesn't expose all the power of the underlying IIB engine. From what I see (apologies Ben !) Hursley are still trying to figure out exactly what to do with the IIB toolkit now they have the lovely UI (the designer). All signs point to having both for many moons to come with more and more function going into the lovely UI - which, inevitably, will make it as clunky as the toolkit if that keeps going - so, lets' hope it doesn't - there's only so much you can simplify a very complex problem !



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    John Hawkins
    CTO
    Lightwell
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    Original Message