Enterprise JavaBeans

specification, business, programming (EJB) A server-side

component architecture for writing reusable business logic

and portable enterprise applications. EJB is the basis of

Sun's Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE).

Enterprise JavaBean components are written entirely in Java

and run on any EJB compliant server. They are operatingsystem, platform, and middleware independent, preventing

vendor lock-in.

EJB servers provide system-level services (the "plumbing")

such as transactions, security, threading, and

persistence.

The EJB architecture is inherently transactional,

distributed, multi-tier, scalable, secure, and wireprotocol neutral - any protocol can be used: IIOP,

JRMP, HTTP, DCOM etc. EJB 1.1 requires RMI for

communication with components. EJB 2.0 is expected to require

support for RMI/IIOP.

EJB applications can serve assorted clients: browsers, Java,

ActiveX, CORBA etc. EJB can be used to wrap legacysystems.

EJB 1.1 was released in December 1999. EJB 2.0 is in

development.

Sun claims broad industry adoption. 30 vendors are shipping

server products implementing EJB. Supporting vendors include

IBM, Fujitsu, Sybase, Borland, Oracle, and

Symantec.

An alternative is Microsoft's MTS (Microsoft TransactionServer).

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(2000-04-20)