Legacy Integration Using Microsoft BizTalk Server

Included with Attachmate Verastream Host Integrator is an Interface for BizTalk server. Verastream Host Integrator provides a bi-directional, real-time connection to legacy applications. It lets you unlock your valuable mainframe functionality and use it in the applications or business processes you create with BizTalk.

Verastream gives you a quick, non-invasive integration approach that supports a broad range of host types including IBM mainframe, IBM AS/400, Unix/OpenVMS, and HP e3000. With Verastream integration tools, you can expose legacy functions as reusable services (i.e., components) that can be accessed by BizTalk and included in a variety of integration scenarios.

How It Works

Verastream lets BizTalk orchestration designers configure and execute Verastream-generated services without leaving the BizTalk environment. Here are the simple steps that make it happen:

1. A web service or other application passes an XML message to the BizTalk orchestration in a message queue.
2. The BizTalk orchestration processes the XML message and invokes the Verastream Interface for BizTalk.
3. The interface parses the XML document, connects to the legacy application, makes the appropriate API call, and retrieves the requested data.
4. The interface converts the retrieved data to XML and returns it to the BizTalk orchestration as an XML message.
5. The BizTalk orchestration places the XML message in the message queue, where it is picked up by the requesting web service or application.

The advanced Verastream technology requires no changes to legacy code and lets you use existing BizTalk skills to deliver new host-based business capabilities. Verastream can also combine services to create higher-level business functions. That way, the BizTalk programmer doesn't have to string together several low-level tasks across multiple hosts.

Why Use the Verastream Interface for BizTalk Server?

Without the interface:

• Developers need to write custom code, which results in long development cycles.
• BizTalk integration code must be replicated and modified for every BizTalk orchestration project.
• Input and output schemas need to be manually created, resulting in tedious, error-prone development work.
• BizTalk developers require more detailed knowledge of BizTalk and Verastream functionality.
  

With the interface:

• Working in the familiar BizTalk environment, orchestration designers can speed up the development process.
• No replications or modifications are needed because configurations can be unique for each orchestration.
• Verastream takes advantage of BizTalk logging features for troubleshooting. (Custom coding has no associated troubleshooting benefits.)
• Errors associated with tedious document creation are eliminated.
• No detailed knowledge of internal BizTalk or Verastream functionality is required.

Making Smart Decisions

If you are evaluating legacy-integration solutions, be sure to ask, "Is it certified for Microsoft BizTalk Server?" This distinction—and many others—set Verastream apart from the other integration options on the market. Verastream is also certified for the Microsoft .NET Connected Logo Program. In addition, Attachmate is a Visual Studio Industry Partner and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.

Verastream Certified By Unisys Team Jupiter Lab

The Verastream interface for BizTalk has successfully completed the requirements for the BizTalk Server Certification Program. This program, conducted by Unisys at the Team Jupiter Lab, is a premier classification of quality assurance gained through in-depth review of a vendor's architecture and compliance with core programming paradigms for enterprise-scale computing. The Team Jupiter Lab is a joint initiative between Unisys and Microsoft, offering a structured development, testing, and validation environment for Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004 solutions.

Learn More

White papers:
Integrating Mainframe Systems in Microsoft Environments

An Introduction to Service-Oriented Integration

More about Verastream:
Product overview

Five-minute demo (Requires Flash Player 6)