Does the App Server market still exist?

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TechMetrix Research has identified some 40 software vendors offering application servers (see "The Application Server Directory").

These products can be classified in various ways. On a technical level, we can separate them into three categories:

• J2EE-based solutions
• Non J2EE solutions (Cold Fusion, PHP, Perl…)
• And the Microsoft solution (ASP/COM and now .NET with ASP+, C#, etc.).

We can also segment the market according to development model, i.e. Open Source Software versus proprietary solutions.

Although the title of this article is deliberately provocative, it is nonetheless worthwhile defining the role of the application server:

"An application server provides an infrastructure and set of services that make it possible to serve applications using Internet-related technologies."

As we have demonstrated in a number of analytical articles (see E-business: Reshaping the Application Server Market), the application server market has evolved greatly over recent months.

This evolution is so significant that the application server's very function is increasingly seen as a basic commodity within any e-business infrastructure, just as the "file system" is seen as a basic function in any Operating System. The distinguishing features now come at the level of the applications and frameworks that rely on the application servers.

Choosing an application server is therefore something that can be tackled according to the three technical categories described above. We shall see how, out of the 40 vendors identified, there are not so many products in which it is really worth investing.

J2EE-based solutions

Our aim here is not to discuss the pros and cons of the J2EE platform. However, it is important to bear in mind that training teams of Java developers takes time — a lot of time — before they become truly productive. The richness of the platform means that it offers strong capabilities, but its complexity should at no point be underestimated.

Sun's efforts to promote Java have paid off. But while there are numerous application servers in existence, if we bring them under closer scrutiny, we realize that they do not all have the same evenly-matched chances of success.

The following players are present in the J2EE market sector:

• Hardware/Server vendors
• Database vendors
• "Independent" vendors

Hardware/Server manufacturers

The three main manufacturers with a full product offering in the J2EE application server market are IBM, Sun and HP.

These three manufacturers offer product lines that are technically comparable, each displaying advantages and disadvantages (each one will be the subject of a detailed product review; WebSphere 3.5 is already available).

What they share:

• The same technical J2EE infrastructure
• Predominance of the Unix system
• In terms of their customers, they are present much further upstream than other competitors

Their position as hardware manufacturers gives IBM, Sun and HP a considerable advantage over other application server vendors. The technical differences between products are not a predominant reason for choosing one over another, even though they should not be ignored.

The market presence of these players, and their distribution channels, make them the incontestable leaders in the field.

Database vendors

Leaders during the client/server years, the two database providers still in the running for application server market share are Oracle and Sybase.

Oracle broke new ground with its recent Oracle 9iAS version, offering improved compliance with the J2EE platform and a product which is more open than before.

Sybase remains an active player in this market, even though we note that it also gears its efforts towards products with greater added value, such as Sybase Enterprise Portal. The company's recent acquisition of New Era of Networks (http://www.neonsoft.com/) reinforces this strategy, which aims to offer a complete solution rather than just the basic building blocks.

Lastly, in the "database vendor" category we find IBM once more, this time as the vendor of DB2. For IBM this represents one more way to access — or retain — customers. IBM promotes WebSphere as a platform grouping together all of its e-business oriented products, rather than solely as an application server. Integration between the different component parts of the range is not yet complete, but the end goal will be to offer a layer of uniform, integrated services all based on J2EE.

Independent vendors (ISVs)

Having reached this point in the article, you might well be wondering what share of the market is left for independent vendors…

It's a relevant issue. What is clear — and this we have identified through our relations with application server vendors and the clients for whom SQLI (TechMetrix's parent group) integrates these solutions — is that BEA WebLogic is an overall leader and in pole position within the ISV sector.

One of the reasons for BEA's leadership over other ISVs is its very advanced level of technology. BEA WebLogic Server is very much recognized by the market and by its customers as a solid technical product. The major market players (database vendors and manufacturers) consider BEA to be one of their biggest competitors. And there is further proof of its leading position: BEA signed important agreements with Vignette in January 2001 and with BroadVision in November 2000. We should bear in mind, however, that the implementation and results of these alliances will take some time to materialize.

BEA is flanked by a number of other vendors, but each of them is opting for different positioning, or is likely to do so shortly.

SilverStream, which stands apart from the crowd due to its highly integrated development environment, is now playing its "solutions and framework" card with ePortal (Entreprise Information Portal), and xCommerce, a XML-based integration tool designed for creating Web Services (SOAP). One of the signs of change can be seen in the company's willingness to make these products (ePortal and xCommerce) independent from SilverStream Application Server, making them portable to the main J2EE Application Servers. SilverStream has also considerably developed its strike force in terms of consulting and integration, with the acquisition of a number of System Integrators (both in the US and in China).

Many other products will still have to find their differentiating factors and establish their position on the market; TechMetrix will continue to evaluate these players and provide regular analyses.

Lastly, we should consider the J2EE Open Source solutions. There are many projects around, such as JBoss, Tomcat, Caucho, Jonas and Enhydra. This last product, Enhydra, is actively supported by Lutris Technologies. This Open Source solution is a credible alternative to the commercial application servers. Enhydra is a very active project, and TechMetrix advises keeping a close eye on developments (a Product Review on Enhydra 3.5 is available). The beta 1 version of Enhydra Enterprise — which integrates many J2EE functionalities — has been available for download since March 29.

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TechMetrix Research is a technically focused analyst firm focused on e-business application development needs. Based in Boston, Mass., the firm publishes comparison reports and product reviews designed to aid enterprises with decision making and to keep pace with the fast-moving e-business market.

TechMetrix is a U.S.-based subsidiary of SQLI, a European company that offers on-site development services to international organizations. SQLI specializes in e-business project development.