Microsoft BizTalk Server

Microsoft BizTalk Server or just BizTalk lets organizations automate business processes via adapters that are tailored to communicate with various software systems that are used in an enterprise. BizTalk is created by Microsoft and provides business process automation, enterprise app integration, message broker, business-to-business communication and monitoring of business activity.

BIZTALK SERVER DEVELOPMENT

BizTalk Server development is made through Microsoft Visual Studio. A developer could build transformation maps that transform one message type to another. For instance, an XML file could be transformed to SAP IDocs. Messages inside the server are implemented via the XML docs and defined with the XML schemas in an XSD standard. The maps are implemented with XSLT standard. The orchestrations are implemented with WS-BPEL compatible process language xLANG. Maps, pipelines, schemas and orchestrations are visually made using graphical tools within Visual Studio. The added functionality could be delivered by.NET assemblies that could be called from current modules that for instance include maps, orchestrations, pipelines and business rules.

THE BIZTALK SERVER AND THE CHALLENGE OF CONNECTED DIVERSE SYSTEMS

The large majority of modern business processes depend at least partly on software. Although some processes are supported by one application, most rely on diverse software systems. In a lot of instances, the software has been built at various times, on different platforms and using many technologies. Business processes automation needs connecting various systems.

Addressing this challenge goes by different names: BPM or business process management, BPA or business process automation and others. Whatever the name, two situations are most critical for app integration. One is connecting app within one organization, referred commonly as EAI or enterprise app integration. The other, B2B or business-to-business integration, connects apps in various organizations.

ENHANCEMENTS IN BIZTALK SERVER 2013

1. BizTalk has new adapters for extending connectivity of the server apps to Microsoft Azure. Furthermore, BizTalk also provides updates to SharePoint adapter, which gives users a choice of opting between using server-side and client-side object model to connect to a SharePoint server. BizTalk includes a new adapter for sending and receiving messages from an SFTP server.
2. Tracking dependencies between artifacts. BizTalk updates the administration console to provide a user interface-driven experience to determine how different the BizTalk Server artifacts, like send ports, orchestrations, receive locations and others are dependent on one another.
3. Integrated ESB Toolkit. Now, the ESB Toolkit is integrated as part of the BizTalk setup. Moreover, the ESB Toolkit configuration experience is made simple to facilitate fast start time for users.
4. Mapper uses XSLCompiledTransform. The Mapper uses the XSLCompiledTransform class. Previous version used the XsITransform class, which is now obsolete. The XSLCompiledTransforms class offers improvements in performance.
5. Configurable dynamic send port handler. When building a dynamic send port, an adapter Send Handler is configurable for each adapter installed. It includes a One-Way and Solicit-Response Dynamic Ports. In past versions, a dynamic send port uses the default host of the adapter.
6. Ordered delivery. In previous versions of BizTalk with instances where ordered delivery uses numerous endpoints, the slowest type of adapter is the maximum speed. This behavior impacts HL7 solutions directly. When using MLLP adapter, acknowledgements are needed. Delays could happen since acknowledgements should be received before sending the next message. In a BizTalk server, the next message could be sent with no need to wait for an acknowledgement from the previous message. When acknowledgement arrives, it is correlated or connected with its message internally.
7. Support tools. The support tools is installed with BizTalk automatically. The tools include MsgBox Viewer, BizTalk Assembly Checker, PSS DiagForBizTalk, PowerShell Provider, Internet shortcut to BizTalk Terminator download.

USING BIZTALK AND THE BIZTALK INFLUENCE

While enterprise architects usually consider and recommend BizTalk, stakeholders at times recommend using it after consulting with outside consultants and experts. The interests of business users’ in using BizTalk are based on an attempt to better position their company to control development as well as ongoing maintenance expenses while boosting process agility since as a platform, BizTalk makes it easier to deliver process and incorporate solutions.

The BizTalk Server makes it easier to deliver process and incorporate solutions since it narrows down the field of probable design implementation approaches that are based on the key functions of connected systems, such as messaging, workflow and communication. One of the reasons why BizTalk makes delivering easier is the declarative programming model. The model makes it easier to express workflows in terms of underlying business process, therefore lessening the risk of process misinterpretation during implementation.

The web-centric, fast-pace customers and trading partners these days demand a connected systems approach. When used for the right apps and in the right way, the BizTalk Server helps agile businesses realize efficiencies as well as meet the demands and needs of their customers and trading partners.

Summing it up, BizTalk supports the famous ‘learn while being productive’ paradigm. Nonetheless, consultants have developed business process integration skill sets to help businesses realize the benefits of the system.

Dhrumit Shukla is Business Development Manager with TatvaSoft - a custom software development company. He writes about Technology Trends, experience working with B2B and B2C clients.