How we tested the various mobile middleware products.Our basic test network consisted of six Fast Ethernet subnet domains connected via Cisco and Perl routers. We set up Internet links through wireless access points, dial-up and T-1 lines. Our client and server platforms included Windows NT/XP/98/2000, Unix (AIX), Red Hat Linux, Novell NetWare and Macintosh System 8. The relational databases on the network were Oracle 8i, Sybase Adaptive Server and Microsoft SQL Server 2000. Microsoft Exchange 2000 with Service Pack 3 was our e-mail and groupware platform. Windows and NetWare both shared files, while Internet Information Server, Netscape and Apache software served Web pages. The network’s protocols were TCP/IP, IPX, AppleTalk and SNA. We used an Agilent Advisor protocol analyzer to monitor network traffic during the tests.The test environment’s wireless devices included an HP Pocket PC, a Palm Tungsten T3 and an HP/Compaq Tablet PC running Windows XP Tablet Edition. JP Mobile also sent us a pair of Samsung and Compaq Pocket PCs.We ran the products’ server components on a Compaq ProLiant ML570 Server with four Pentium III CPUs, 2G bytes of RAM and a 135G-byte hard disk. The operating system was Windows Advanced Server 2000, with Service Pack 4. We used two inhouse-developed vertical market applications plus e-mail, Web server, database query and miscellaneous office productivity tasks as a test framework. The two custom-built applications were an automobile insurance rate/quote package and a Web-based search engine process for querying a financial database. The insurance rating software is what an agent uses to provide a price for your automobile insurance. A financial adviser would use the financial database search software to help a client build a retirement plan or investment portfolio.We evaluated each product’s ability to provide mobile (wireless) access to the applications. We looked for ease of use, comprehensive access to a variety of wireless devices, adherence to standards, platform neutrality, clear documentation and easy installation. We also noted any special features a product might exhibit. Back to review: Mobile middleware Related content opinion Is anything useful happening in network management? Enterprises see the potential for AI to benefit network management, but progress so far is limited by AI’s ability to work with company-specific network data and the range of devices that AI can see. By Tom Nolle Nov 28, 2023 7 mins Generative AI Network Management Software brandpost Sponsored by HPE Aruba Networking SASE, security, and the future of enterprise networks By Adam Foss, VicePresident Pre-sales Consulting, HPE Aruba Networking Nov 28, 2023 4 mins SASE news AWS launches Cost Optimization Hub to help curb cloud expenses At its ongoing re:Invent 2023 conference, the cloud service provider introduced several new and free updates that are expected to help enterprises optimize their AWS costs. By Anirban Ghoshal Nov 28, 2023 3 mins Amazon re:Invent how-to Getting started on the Linux (or Unix) command line, Part 4 Pipes, aliases and scripts make Linux so much easier to use. By Sandra Henry-Stocker Nov 27, 2023 4 mins Linux Podcasts Videos Resources Events NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe