After a long beta cycle, Microsoft has announced the availability of Host Integration Server (HIS) 2004, its legacy platform interoperability solution. The server is the latest member of the Windows Server System and includes support for XML Web services, the Visual Studio .NET 2003 integrated developer environment (IDE), and the Microsoft .NET Framework. HIS 2004 allows developers to build XML Web service front ends for legacy line-of-business applications for use and reuse within service oriented architectures (SOA).

One Microsoft's primary objectives is to facilitate a cost effective integration of mid-range systems and IBM mainframes into the Windows operating environment. To achieve this objective, Microsoft has added in features to HIS for secure cross-platform access as well as improved application and data integration capabilities.

"We are now providing an opportunity for companies to integrate their mission-critical mainframe applications, data sources, and messaging and security systems through Web-service-enabled SOA solutions that are reusable and extensible," said Ted Kummert, corporate vice president in the Business Process and Integration Division at Microsoft.

Some of the server's most important features that make Kummert's statement a reality are the Transaction Integrator (TI), managed provider for IBM’s DB2 database, TI Host-Initiated Processing (HIP), Enterprise single sign-on (ESSO), and IP-DLC (data link control) Link Service.

Transaction Integrator ports business rules in mainframe Customer Information Control System (CICS), Information Management System (IMS) and AS/400 applications to XML Web Services. TI is integrated with the familiar Visual Studio .NET programming environment and the .NET framework to provide for rapid deployments and extend across platforms that were formerly incompatible.

HIP complements Transaction Integrator by functioning as a peer to IMB mainframes and AS/400 systems so that customers can develop distributed peer-to-peer applications and migration host application logic and data to Windows Server and SQL.

Data stored in IBM DB2 databases can by exposed and retrieved through HIS's managed provider feature. Data can be published as XML Web services and integrated into Windows Forms, Web Forms, InfoPath and the components of the Microsoft Office system.

For those wondering about security, security credentials between Active Directory and legacy systems are authenticated by HIS's ESSO component. Active Directory permits HIS, BizTalk Server 2004, IBM mainframe and midrange systems, IBM applications such as CICS, IMS, DB2 and MQSeries to interoperate securely and share assets.

Last but not least, the IP-DLC deploys standard Systems Network Architecture over IP routing connects IBM z900 mainframes to centrally-deployed and branch-deployed applications administered by HIS 2004 systems. Microsoft claims that enterprises will save money by no longer having to purchase data link switching routers or front-end processors. There will also no longer be a need to remotely administer branch cluster controllers.

HIS 2004 marks the first new release of the server since Host Integration Server 2000 was brought to market. Visual Studio development tools and support for .NET was lacking from the HIS which, with the 2004 release, is finally on the same ground as other members of the Microsoft Server family.

HIS 2004 will be available September 1 in two editions: Standard and Enterprise. The Standard edition will be tagged with an estimated retail price of $2,499 USD and include "core services" minus the application integration capabilities of Transaction Integrator and the message integration functionality of the MQSeries and Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) bridge. The Enterprise edition is full-featured and will retail for $9,999 USD.