IBM WebSphere DataPower SOA Appliances
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IBM WebSphere DataPower SOA Appliances is a family of purpose-built, easy-to-deploy network devices (XML appliances) that simplify, help secure, and accelerate XML and Web Services deployments while extending SOA infrastructure. Originally these devices were created by DataPower Technology Inc., which was acquired by IBM in October 2005.[1]
Now this family consists of (1.75" thick) rack-mountable network devices and also blade devices:
- WebSphere DataPower Integration Appliance XI50 (blade form-factor)
- WebSphere DataPower Integration Appliance XI52
- WebSphere DataPower Service Gateway XG45 appliance
- WebSphere DataPower Edge Appliance XE82
- WebSphere DataPower B2B Appliance XB62
- WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance
- WebSphere DataPower XML Accelerator XA35
The rack-mountable DataPower Appliances are built on IBM's XSeries 1U Chassis, which include hot swappable power, disks, and fans. DataPower Appliances contain many specialized hardware components, including ASIC-based IPS, custom encrypted RAID drives, and hardware security modules. Externally facing, all DataPower Appliances have 4 Ethernet ports and 1 serial port.
DataPower Appliances operate a single digitally signed firmware containing an operating system and application stack. DataPower's firmware runs on a flash storage device. IBM refreshes and enhances the DataPower firmware image every 10–20 weeks. DataPower firmware is a well performing and highly optimized platform to perform electronic messaging functions. As a result, users cannot run 3rd party applications on DataPower as they would a traditional server and operating system. Instead of a traditional filesystem, DataPower runs with a collection of isolated virtual file systems called 'Application Domains'. As a result, DataPower can appear to its client connections be any type of network file system with any type of folders and links.
Another purpose of DataPower's firmware platform is security. The DataPower TCP and UDP network stack is expected to provide near-constant throughput under the most extreme and sophisticated DDoS and XSS network attacks.[2]