InformationWeek

Web application servers were heralded as the simplest way to provide Web apps with the scalability and reliability they require.

Whether you're implementing E-commerce, Web-based supply-chain management, or a business portal, you need the simplicity and services that Web application servers provide. But initial market acceptance has been somewhat slower than expected. Most IT organizations understood the value of Web application servers a year ago, but were too preoccupied with other budget-busting initiatives such as year 2000 remediation and enterprise resource planning implementations to devote real project dollars to Web application servers.

Times change quickly. This year, more IT groups than ever before have Web application servers as a budget-line item. The Web has changed the rules by creating new business models and new methods of generating revenue that were never before thought possible. Companies realize that it's time to get these application servers, middleware components, and development tools into production-or risk lagging behind their competitors in the move to the Web.

The vendors understand these realities as well. As recently as 18 months ago, Web application servers and development environments were available primarily from smaller companies and startups; the larger infrastructure vendors such as Netscape and Sun Microsystems were just starting to test the waters through acquisitions. Today, nearly every major software vendor has a Web application server offering.

The good news is that the technology is maturing quickly, and the solutions available today are generally impressive across the board. Even since last summer, when we performed our first in-depth review of Web application development platforms ("Make the Web Work For You," June 22, 1998, p. 63), there have been major strides in the scalability and functionality of the products as a class. They're not just for pilot applications anymore.

Many smaller vendors have good market strategies, solid management, financial backing, and technology that easily stands up to-or surpasses-the solutions from the major system vendors.

In this article, we'll attempt to sort out the mass of new solutions in the Web application server space. In the next two issues, InformationWeek and Doculabs will look in depth at Web development environments.

There used to be only a handful of vendors offering Web application servers. When InformationWeek and Doculabs first looked at this category of products last June, we found about a half-dozen solid vendors providing solutions in that space. They were primarily venture-funded startups or infrastructure vendors that had recently acquired startups.