Emerging technologies of application routers that parse and integrate business data

Application routers are emerging technologies that replace expensive custom software to implement data integration. Assume the role of switching between the two systems. The following article gives a detailed introduction.

The goal of data integration is simple: to allow one system to exchange information with another system. For IT managers, the reality is much more complicated than the principle. Data integration technology is often shrouded in the shadows of expensive software, business data exchange, and unsuccessful application after implementation.

Application routers are emerging technologies that replace expensive custom software to implement data integration. This dedicated device connects various legacy systems to implement the conversion engine. It provides a cost-effective method to connect different applications.

The best way to reduce the cost of data integration is to reduce the complexity of the products used. Because most integration projects are point-to-point, application routers can be conveniently installed between these points.

Similar to a multi-protocol router, an application router can be installed in a network that requires data exchange, for example, between a database using SQL language and an ERP system using XML. The application router is responsible for the conversion between the two systems. It runs on the network layer and allows the database information, files, and other related business data to be seamlessly transmitted to the correct source code library.

Application routers are being applied by Fortune 500 companies. These products are usually composed of specialized software, hardware devices, and Web-based portals. They perform five main functions:

Connectivity: connect to flat-files, XML files, databases, Web services, EDI, MQ Series, and main applications.

Data conversion: includes a design environment used to solve data mismatch between the source and target systems.

Content-based routing: enables the IT manager to establish a routing model in a graphical manner. In the future, data from the self-source system will be transmitted to one or more target systems.

Monitoring: You can monitor all history and health status of transactions processed by the application router.

Warning notification: sends an alert for data and connection errors by email or SNMP trap.

Enterprises can use application routers to connect two systems for data exchange. Some IT departments need to constantly integrate data and invest a lot to solve these problems. The combination of application router hardware and software provides a simple choice to solve these problems. This approach can save IT costs in several ways: simplicity of implementation technology, fast implementation time, manageability, operating and capital costs, and low total cost of ownership (TCO ).

Compared with traditional enterprise integrated software technology and custom programming options, application routers reduce the development and deployment costs in the early stage and the post-management costs charged by software companies. It is not an exclusive choice either. Application routers can coexist with other ongoing integration projects to protect existing investments. The advantage of this technology development lies in its simplicity.