IBM XWork Server

One of the important restrictions of the IBM XWork server is that it can be used to host only 4 applications with maximum 4 databases each. That is 16 non-system databases. Quite often this is a bummer for ISVs who have deliberately separated out data, configurations, localized templates etc.

While I believe these restrictions may take different shapes as adoption grows, the next set of posts will be focused on the ways to take advantage of the server while complying with the limitations.

Let us see what we get in the IBM XWork server

  • Full Domino server except email capability. From Ed Brill’s post, it is evident that it supports SMTP routing as well – just that the server cannot be used as the mail server for any user
  • Can be part of a larger organization’s Domino infrastructure. There does not seem to be any restrictions on the address book except that it can only replicate with a non-XWork server or be stand-alone.
  • Can be accessed by Lotus Notes clients (requires a CAL) or web browsers or mobile clients
  • Only 2 licenses per installation

The IBM XWork server is specially targeted at XPages applications though it supports standard web applications as well as Notes client applications.

With XPage based applications, the following are possible:

  • Create dashboards and integrated data maps that work with data in different databases.
  • Since XPages are at the core JSF, you can connect to backend RDBMS with a well designed UI – even today, XPages is a RAD tool.
  • Create mobile applications using the Extension Library which provides a good starting point for applications. Again the mobile application can connect to backend servers for data.

For ISV’s here is how the XWork Server can help.

1.   If your solution is <4 NSF files, if fits into 1 XWork Server. Since it can be White Label, you can create a bundled license that is fixed-term including the $2000 XWork Server license cost

2.   If your solution is > 4 NSF files but < 8 NSF files, you can choose to have 2 XWork Server licenses (you do not need to install 2 XWork Servers). But you cannot have more than 2 XWork server licenses for 1 installation

3.   If your solution is > 8 NSF files, you can either choose a Domino Utility server (or Express variant depending on # of users) or choose to integrate databases to bring it down to < 8 NSF files.

4.   All above are for on-premise solutions. For hosting options, IBM seems to offer a custom contract specific to each ISV.

More tomorrow to address Option 3.