A week after the beta, WSO2 released the full version of Web Services Application Server 2.0 today.

WSO2 WSAS is an integrated Web services Platform which offers a complete middleware solution. It is a lightweight, highly performant platform for Service Oriented Architectures, enabling business logic and applications. Bringing together a number of Apache Web services projects, WSO2 WSAS provides a secure, transactional and reliable runtime for deploying and managing Web services.

Main features of version 2.0 include

• Data services support allowing data in relational databases to be exposed as Web services, and to be included in Web mashups with ease.
• Eclipse IDE integration with wizard based flows to automate most steps and make easy the process of developing, deploying and debugging Web services.
• Clustering support with state replication for high availability, along with load balancing, failover and cluster-wide management functions.
• EJB service provider support to expose EJBs deployed on a remote J2EE application server (AS) as Web services.
• Axis1 backward compatibility to easily deploy any Apache Axis1-based Web service and engage advanced WS-* services, such as WS-RM and WS-Policy in front of legacy Axis1 services.

WSO2 WSAS 2.0 also has extended security with support for WS-Security, WS-Trust, WS-Policy and WS-SecureConversation with additional means for secure Web-based communications using public key infrastructure (PKI) with XKMS. This release of WSO2 WSAS also includes an inbuilt SecurityTokenService as defined in WS-Trust specification.

Download WS02 WSAS 2.0 right here.

WSO2 released a beta version of the Web Service Framework for PHP 1.0 last week. WSF/PHP which helps to write services and clients to consume Web services, is currently the only PHP extension that support the full Web services stack including WS-Addressing (version 1.0), WS-Security ( UsernameToken and Timestamp, Encryption, Signing and WS-SecurityPolicy based configuration) and WS-ReliableMessaging (Single channel two way reliable messaging).

This PHP extension is also one of the first to support WSDL for both client and server side as well as backward compatibility with the PHP5 SOAP extension.

Download it now!

Colombo, Sri Lanka – July 16, 2007 – WSO2, the open source middleware company, announced today version 2.0 of the WSO2 Web Services Application Server (WSAS), which sets new standards for simplifying the delivery of Web services. WSAS 2.0 features the first data services to easily tap relational databases for mashups, Eclipse integration to let developers work directly in the IDE, and the first clustering available on a Web services server. WSAS 2.0 also allows Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs) to be exposed as Web services, offers backward compatibility for Apache Axis1, and extends security through support for the Web services (WS-*) security stack and XML Key Management Specification (XKMS).

Version 2.0 builds on the proven performance of WSO2 WSAS, the first application server to support the full XML-based WS-* stack and REST in a simple, clean, lightweight model that makes it easier to develop, deploy, manage, and monitor Web services. The completely open source, openly developed WSAS 2.0 is based on Apache Axis2, one of the world’s fastest Java Web services engines, and features a lightweight Ajax administration console to simplify configuration and management. With more than 3000 transactions per second on a dual-core system, the highly tuned WSAS 2.0 runs four to five times faster than Axis1.

“As enterprises accelerate their development of service-oriented architectures, they’re increasingly turning to open source middleware that provides the flexibility to choose the solutions that best suit their SOA needs—today and in the future,” said Sanjiva Weerawarana, CEO of WSO2. “With version 2.0, we’re delivering a mature, enterprise-class platform that significantly extends the ability to leverage existing corporate data and development tools, scalability to meet large-scale deployments, and Web security for trusted Web-based interactions.”

Key features of the WSO2 WSAS 2.0 include:

• Data services allow developers to expose data stored in relational databases in minutes via a Web services API—without programming. An XML response is generated using database data, making it fast and easy to include this data in Web mashups. Developers can deploy the data service configuration file directly or create a service using the UI wizard. WSAS 2.0 lets users take full advantage of the WS-* security stack to ensure data security.
• Eclipse integration cuts the time to develop, deploy and debug Web services. It lets developers and administrators work in the familiar Eclipse environment, eliminating the need to have a deep understanding of the underlying Axis2 Web services. Wizard-based flows make it possible to automate most manual work.
• Clustering and high availability are enabled by the most comprehensive open source management offering available. Configuration management for handling clusters of nodes includes load configuration, a deploy/undeploy service and functions for updating policies. WSAS 2.0 also features state replication for high availability, along with load balancing and failover.
• Extended security with WSAS 2.0 includes full support for WS-Security, WS-Trust, WS-Policy and WS Conversation. Additionally XKMS support provides another means for developers to secure Web-based communications using public key infrastructure (PKI). An API is available for constructing XKMS messages based on the client side’s required service. Services are provided by XKMS service, which also handles the state space for protocol exchange.
• EJB support makes it possible expose EJBs as Web services. Developers can invoke operations on EJBs deployed on a remote J2EE application server (AS), use a graphical wizard to capture J2EE AS configuration details, and connect to J2EE AS using Java Naming Provider. Developers also can upload EJB Remote and Home interfaces from the wizard and deploy a Web service exposing EJB methods.
• Axis1 backward compatibility allows enterprises to easily deploy any Apache Axis1-based Web service into WSAS 2.0 in order to engage advanced WS-* services, such as WS-RM and WS-Policy in front of their legacy services. In doing so, developers gain state-of-the-art WS-* functionality without having to rewrite their existing services.

“In building SOAs, enterprises want to leverage their existing and vast investments in application development and management of corporate data,” said Ronald Schmelzer, senior analyst and founder of ZapThink, LLC, an SOA-focused analysis and advisory firm. “By simplifying the ability to deliver Web Services based on Eclipse and EJBs, as well as capture relational data, Version 2 of WSO2’s WSAS helps to advance the industry forward in facilitating broader SOA adoption.”

The WSO2 Web Services Application Server 2.0 begins general availability this week. It can run as a standalone system or on top of an existing application server. As a fully open source solution, the WSAS 2.0 does not carry any software licensing fees.

WSO2 offers a range of service and support options for the WSO2 WSAS 2.0. These include consulting, custom development, and sponsorship of open source feature development; development and production support; and training. For information on service and support fees, visit www.wso2.com. Additionally, the WSO2 Oxygen Tank (www.wso2.org) is an open developer portal that provides in-depth product information, tutorials, tools, forums, wikis and more.