WebSphere Portal Technical Overview

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Portal Technical Overview

Discovering the value of IBM WebSphere Portal V6.1


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Discovering the value of IBM WebSphere Portal V6.1 - Portal Technical Overview

WebSphere Portal Production Architecture

WAS/WP

Portal Tier

Repository

Collaboration Tier Backend Tier

ERP

EIS

Enterprise Data

Security Tier

TAM LDAP

Firewall

Content Tier

DB2 CM Web CM

Browser Firewall

DMZ

Load Balancer

WebServers

WebSEAL


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Works with your Environment● Platforms

AIX®, i5/OS®, RHEL and SLES Linux® (Intel®, pSeries®, zSeries®), HP-UX,zOS® (native)*, Solaris™ and Windows®

● Databases IBM DB2®, Oracle®, SQL Server®, Derby (Cloudscape®)

● Directories Microsoft® Active Directory, Novell® eDirectory, Sun™, Domino®, IBM Directory

Server, Custom User Registry

● External Security Manger Tivoli® Access Manager, SiteMinder

● HTTP Web Servers IBM, Apache, Microsoft, Sun

● Browsers Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox®

*Coming later in 2008


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WebSphere Portal Main Components

WebSphere Portal

WebSphereApplication

Server

Derby (database)

IBM HTTPServer

IBM Directory Server (LDAP)

Search

Web ContentManagement

Personalization

CollaborationCollaboration

WebSphere Portlet Factory

Also Domino, Microsoft, AD,Novell, Sun, etc

Also IIS, etc.

Also DB2, Oracle, SQL Server


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Architecture Overview WebSphere Portal V6.1

PortalDatabase(s)

User profile

DatabaseLDAP Directorie(s)

Page Aggregation

Themes and skins

Page Handler

Dynamic UI Manager

Rules

Portlet Container and Services

Portlet API

Content access

Search

PortletPreference

Collab-oration

AJAXProxy

Webclipper

Live Text

SiteAdmin

CredentialVault

SingleSign-on

XML AccessPortal ScriptREST / APP

J2EE

JCA

WebServices

EJB

JMS

JDBC

Servlet

Security Caching

EnterpriseData, Applications,Internet Content

Process Server

Remoteportlet producer

AU

TH

EN

TIC

AT

ION

Desktopand mobileBrowsers,

Mashups and offline Clients

Remoteportlet

consumer

PolicyPortalModel

TemplateComposition

ComponentHandler

ApplicationRuntimeAUTHORIZATION

Feed Provider

JSR286

WSRP

1.0 + 2.0WSRP

1.0 + 2.0

Widgets

● JDBC = Java Database Specification

● JCA = J2EE Connector Architecture

● EJB = Enterprise Java Beans

● JMS = Java Message Service


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Portlet Perspective

● To an End User: a portlet is a window to display their preferred content

● To a Content Provider: a means for targeting content to the end user.

● Portal Administrator: a WAR file

● Portal Server: a component rendered and aggregated into one of its pages

● Developer: a java application whose lifecycle is managed by the container


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Portlet Standards

● Java™ Specification Request (JSR) 286 – Java Portlet Specification V2.0 IBM is leading this JSR, all major Java technology portal

(commercial and open source) vendors represented

Approved: March 04th 2008 (WebSite complete April 9th)

● Web Services for Remote Portlets (WSRP) V2.0 Standard protocol for accessing portlets as web service

Defined at OASIS, chaired by IBM, Approved: March 31st 2008

● Common goals Enable coordination between portlets and allow building

composite applications based on portlet components (events and render context (e.g. public render parameters) )

● WebSphere Portal seamlessly integrates JSR168, JSR286 and WSRP 2.0 Portlets.

● Also integrates IBM Portlet API and WSRP 1.0

04.03.2008: http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=286

31.03.2008: http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/ballot.php?id=1431


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Portlet Conceptual Flow (Server-Side Aggregation)

● 1. User clicks on portlet, request sent to action dispatcher function

● 2. Dispatcher sends input to portlet as a request object

● 3. Portlet accesses application that accesses data and returns to portlet

● 4. Portlet generates markup fragments and passes to page aggregation

● 5. Page aggregation builds page and returns to browser


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Portal Page Aggregation Process (Server Side Aggr)

Layout system is called for the target markup. JSPtemplates define the overall page, rows, columns anddecorations. Themes and Skins define the look and Feel

Page Aggregation Servlet

STEP 5

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5 STEP 5

Servlet examines the request to determinedevice type, user and language

Security settings are checked to determine whichpages and portlets the user is authorized to see

Processes portlet messages and sends events to other portlets. All events must be completed in this phase.

Portlets render themselves inparallel


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Client Side Aggregation ● Turn your existing Portal Applications into “desktop like” applications Highly reactive and direct user interface Many actions possible without server

roundtrips Avoids page reloads

● Improved performance and scalability Reduced server side processing Reduced bandwidth requirements Reduced client-side processing Improved cachability

● Browser-side Aggregation, Navigation and Customization Renders XML obtained from the server in

the browser Implemented using Asynchronous

JavaScript™ and XML (AJAX), XML, Dojo, and JavaScript

*REST is the acronym for „Representational State Transfer“It is the architectural model on which the WWW is based

“Most existing Portlets benefit directly from Web2.0 rendering model without any changes.”“Most existing Portlets benefit directly from Web2.0 rendering model without any changes.”

Gadgets

Atom / RSS Feeds

REST-accessible Markup Fragments

Portlets or other

WSRP Services


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Deployment MgrHTTP Server

Directory Server Database Server

● WebSphere Portal (& WCM) utilize WAS clustering ● Portal ships with WebSphere Application Server ND (Network Deployment) in the box*.● Search Server can be separated from Portal. Search Portlets communicate remotely● Reference: Step-by-Step Cluster Guide for IBM WebSphere Portal v6.1

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=688&uid=swg21313184

Portal Search

WebSphere Portal

Content Apps

WebSphere Portal

Content Apps

WebSphere Portal

Content Apps

*Limited license for Portal Express

The Basic Horizontal ClusterMulti-Node

Portal Clustering


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WebSphere Application Server (WAS)

WAS Virtual Member Manager (VMM) Integration

LDAP

WAS Security

WebSphere Portal

PUMA SPI(public since v5101)

VMM

URAdaptor

DBCustom*

Federated* WAS LDAP LDAP

* Default Portal Install (Federated, File-based)


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WebSphere Portal 6.1 Security

● Portal utilizes Virtual Member Manager (VMM) in WebSphere Application Server V6.1 VMM User Registry (UR) adapter acts as integration point between WebSphere Applicaiton

Server security & VMM

com.ibm.ws.wim.registry.WIMUserRegistry

Public API for custom adapter

● Out of the box, VMM supplies adapters for File-based, LDAP & Database repositories

● WebSphere Application Security is enabled when Portal is installed

● Integration in WebSphere Security infrastructure Supports WebSphere TAI++ (Trust Association Interceptor)

Enables establishment of trust without verification with WebSphere Portal 6.1

● WebSphere Portal can bind to multiple LDAP directories

● SPNEGO support (Windows Desktop SSO) Automatically authenticate the user if logged into the desktop

LDAP 1

Customers LDAP 2

Partners LDAP 3

Employees


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Customer identification with your Website can increase customer loyalty.

Customer identification with your Website can increase customer loyalty.

Remember Me and Step-Up AuthenticationThe site recognizes me without login…The site recognizes me without login…

…requires user authentication…

Access to sensitive service or operation,...

… before access is provided.


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Exceptional “User Experience” Drives Productivity● Contemporary,

Fresh Look and Feel

● Fly Out Menus and Page navigation

● Drag & drop support

● Portlet Palette

● Search

● Menus delivered “in context” Appropriate actions

based on the portal object

Only shows the “actions” allowed by the “User Role” (Security)

● Super-responsive, rich and interactive portlets, content and applications


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Putting Pages, Applications & Other Content into Portal1. Display Existing HTML/Web Apps

Web Clipping, Web Application Integrator*

2. Install Existing Portlets Out-of-the-Box or from the Portlet Catalog

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), eMail, Green Screen, Dashboard, etc. (drag and drop on to pages)

3. Use HTML tools (“Static Pages”)* Build HTML/CSS with HTML editor. Add portlets,

live text, instant messaging, etc. 4. Lotus® Web Content Management

HTML/JS content, Personalization, Web Content Integrator, Doc Libraries*

5. Use Built-in Web 2.0 Services* Semantic Tagging (Live Text), Client-Side

aggregation, AJAX, REST

6. Incorporate Collaboration Awareness, Instant Msg, Team spaces, etc.

7. Consume a Web Service or WSRP Standards based integration, WSRP 2.0*

8. Build Composite Applications, eForms & Business Processes

Click to Action (C2A)*, Cooperative portlets, HATS, App templates, Process Portal, Lotus Forms

9. Develop Custom Portlets Portlet Factory, RAD, (Java, JSPs, Web

Services, REST*, AJAX*, JSR 286*) Run .net apps as Java apps (Mainsoft™)

10. Extend the Browser Utilize rich/remote/mobile clients, e.g.

Expeditor, Citrix® portlets, Mobile Portal *New for 6.1


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Portlets Provided with WebSphere Portal 6.1● Mail / PIM Solutions - Lotus Notes®, Exchange, IMAP/POP3

● Web Apps Integration: Bookmarks, Banner, Quicklinks, Webpage,

Web Clipper, Really Simple Syndication (RSS), File Server, Java Server Page (JSP) Server, Servlet Invoker, Web Services (producer and consumer)

● Personal Organization: Reminder, PDF Document Viewer, World Clock, My SQL Query Reports, Retirement Planner, Currency Calculator, My ToDo’s, Comma Separated Values (CSV) file viewer

● News and Information: Events, News, Links, My Weather, My Vertical News, My Stock, Company Tracker.

● Administration Portlets – Site Management, Manage Pages, Manage Portlets, Themes and Skins, Web Services, Manage Search, Web Content Libraries, Syndication, Virtual Portal manager, etc.

● Collaboration: Lotus Instant Messaging Contact List, Who Is Here, People Finder, My Team Workplaces, Web Conferencing, Domino Web Access, Domino Document Manager, NotesView, Notes Mail, Calendar, Tasks, ToDo, Discussion, Teamroom

● Utility Portlets: Login, Profile Management, About WebSphere Portal, Directory Search, Search Center, Instant Messaging connect

● Search: Document Search, Search Center, Suggested Links

● Content Integration: Web Content Management, Productivity Components, converters and viewers

● Business Process Integration: My Tasks and process portlets

● Sample Portlet Applications: Basic, Struts framework, cooperative portlets


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IBM Provides Collaborative Capabilities

ContactInformation,

Skills, Expertise

Communities,DiscussionsBlogs/Wikis

SharedDocuments

SharedBookmarking

Activites/Project

Management

InstantMessaging,

Web Conferencing

E-mail,Calendar, Contacts

Scorecards,Business

Intelligence

Telephony,Video, VOIP

Documents,Presentations,Spreadsheets

Composite Applications

Business Mashups

Electronicforms

In Context Of How People Work


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WebSphere Portal 6.1 and Web 2.0

● Social Features Social Software with Lotus Connections Blogs and Wikis, and forums in Quickr™ User Contribution to portal sites through WCM Situational Development through the Portlet Palette, Drag

and Drop page composition, Click-2-Action, Property Broker and Composite Application Templates

● Technical Features Support for AJAX Portlets

Portlet Factory builder, RAD tooling, DOJO, AJAX Proxy, Samples,…

Exploits AJAX for context menus, search menu, and more Provides REST services for browser side programming Client Side Aggregation improves user experience Semantic tags and Microformats support Smart Markup Provides and consumes ATOM Feeds


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Easily Deploy Content -- Web Content Management 6.1

● Inline Editing for easy authoring

● User-friendly, simple templates for entering content

● Full text, attribute and taxonomy search

● Simplified process for including personalization rules in content & layout

● Views allow users to find their content easily

● User interface can be customized easily to provide tailored experience

● Link and Image Management


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Creating the personal touch you needMany ways to make a personalized site

Profile Drives my look and feel by login

Customization Allows the user to change their own interface.

Personalization Drives a custom user experience at all levels based upon personal or other attributes


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Advanced Personalization● Administrators can apply

“Personalization rules” to both portlets and portal pages Use of Business logic to

provide “dynamic” experience E.g. Show HR Benefits

Page during enrollment period

● Personalization Engine in Portal used for: Client-tailored content Site Management (visibility

rule) System Policies Custom Applications

● Personalization rules dialog is accessed in context


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Build Composite Applications● Easily create new composite applications

● Deploy them to different communities with different… Look and feel, Parameters

Members and Roles

● Application owners can then change it to meet new requirements


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Cooperative Portlets

● Regulated by the Property Broker

● Easily enable portlets to communicate using a Click-to-Action (C2A) menu or Portlet Wires


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Business Process Integration

● Having good business processes is not enough

● Efficient execution is becoming a key factor of success Provide access to everybody

– employees, customers, suppliers

Present the staff tasks to the right people at the right time

Automatic fail-over for approvals


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Tooling for Portal Development

● WebSphere Portlet Factory One Designer license included with WebSphere Portal

Eclipse tool using reusable components

● Rational Application Developer An open, comprehensive development environment for building e-business

applications

Portal Tools are fully integrated to support portal and portlet development

Version 7.5 works with Portal 6.1


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WebSphere Everyplace Mobile Portal Enable (WEMPE)Platform for device independent apps that

operate in connected mode

● Lower development/maintenance cost through device independent XDIME markup - ‘Write once, render many’

● Increased reach/target audience through content on a variety of channels – PDAs, Smartphones, Laptops, Desktops

● Reduced time to market and more revenue through device database with over 5000 preconfigured device profiles and automatic device update service

● Lower administration/integration cost through integration with WebSphere Portal

WebSphere Portal basedWebSphere Portal based


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Portal Single Sign On (SSO)

Basic Authentication

User Registry

Domino

EIS

Application

Back-end Systems

Access to Domino

External Security Managers

HTTPWAS

Portal

HTTPWAS

Portal

HTTPWAS

Portal

WAS

Portal

HTTP

HTTPTAI

LTPA

● WAS = WebSphere Application Server

● TAI = Trust Association Interceptor

● LTPA = Lightweight Third-Party Authentication

WebSphere Portal Technical Overview

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