BizTalk Server 2009 provides the infrastructure to connect business systems with each other, regardless of the platform, whether in a single organization or across different organizations. It also allows users to define and execute processes based on those systems.

For example, an inventory application running on an IBM mainframe issues a request for a purchase order, a resource planning application running on a UNIX system issues the purchase order, and a fulfillment application running on Windows places the order. These applications communicate with each other through BizTalk Server, according to the rules the organization has defined for this process.

BizTalk Server communicates by means of software mechanisms called adapters. More than two dozen adapters are included, including Windows Communication Foundation for .NET, SOAP for XML and Web services, IBM databases, and commonly used business software such as Siebel, PeopleSoft, and Oracle E-Business Suite. Microsoft partners provide still more adapters, some at an extra cost.

The 2009 version integrates with Microsoft's latest platform software, including Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008, and .NET Framework 3.5. It enables greater scalability and reliability and supports Hyper-V virtualization. It also adds a new Web services directory compliant with version 3 of UDDI.

This product includes one processor license.

No client licenses are required for BizTalk Server.

Features:

Under the Software Assurance programme, customers acquire the right to install any new release of products covered in the agreement during the term of their coverage.
The Orchestration Designer, BizTalk Editor, and BizTalk Mapper provide graphical means to define a business process and the rules it uses. The Business Rules Engine provides a way of evaluating a complex set of business rules.
BizTalk RFID enables RFID (radio frequency identification) devices to become fully compatible with the Microsoft platform. It also allows developers to create RFID processes, such as asset tracking and supply chain visibility, that are independent of underlying device types and protocols. New in the 2009 version is support for mobile RFID.
BizTalk Server supports Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), one of the most prevalent means by which entities exchange data electronically, including support for AS2 and SWIFT formats.
Business Activity Monitoring (BAM) allows analysts, developers, and information workers to get information about business state, trends, and critical conditions.

Requirements:

Hardware

1-GHz (or higher) single processor; 900-MHz (or higher) double processors; 700-MHz (or higher) quad processors (Hyper-Threading and dual-core processors supported)
2 GB or more RAM
10 GB available hard-disk space, NTFS formatting
1024x768-pixel (or higher) display
CD or DVD drive

Software:

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Service Pack 2 (SP2); Windows Server 2003 R2; Windows Server 2008; Windows XP with SP3; Windows Vista with SP1
Internet Information Services 6.0 or 7.0
Excel 2007
SQL Server 2005; SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2005 Notification Services with SP2
For BizTalk Server applications development and debugging — Visual Studio 2008 with Visual C# .NET (not required for production-only systems)
For the Windows SharePoint Services adapter Web service — Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 with SP1
For BizTalk RFID, see BizTalk RFID Requirements
For installing other BizTalk Server features, see the BizTalk Server Feature Dependency Matrix

If the server is missing a prerequisite software component, BizTalk Setup is able to install redistributable prerequisites automatically from the Web or from a predownloaded CAB file.

Price: £225.00 + VAT