“Cloud Computing” is one of the greatest technological revolutions in the history of technology. There is a huge gap in bridging the on – premise applications and cloud applications. So therefore, Integration is needed to bridge the gap between the on – premise existing systems and the new cloud applications, platform and infrastructure.
IBM Websphere Cast Iron provides the solution of integrating the on – premise applications with the cloud applications, cloud applications to the cloud applications, on – premise applications to on – premise applications. The main USP of IBM Websphere Cast Iron is its “simplicity”. This simplicity is delivered by four major key features namely:
(i) Connectivity: IBM Websphere Cast Iron provides connectivity to various cloud and on – premise applications, databases, Webservices, messaging systems and many other end points.
(ii) Transformation: IBM Websphere Cast Iron enables us to transform data from source to target applications using a graphical interface with drag and drop approach.
(iii) Business Logic: IBM Websphere Cast Iron allows graphically defining the flow of data between the source and the target applications and setting up business logic rules with ‘no coding’ approach.
(iv) Management: IBM Websphere Cast Iron provides a Web based console to monitor the integrations and transactions.
The main advantages of IBM Websphere Cast Iron are namely:
(i) Time Factor: “IBM Websphere Cast Iron gives integration solution in days rather than months”. One more important key feature is that IBM Websphere Cast Iron uses “Configuration, not coding” approach. IBM Websphere Cast Iron also delivers a comprehensive set of pre – configured Template Integration Processes (TIPs) for the most common integration scenarios between the popular cloud and on – premise applications. These TIPs eliminate the need to build the integrations right from the scratch which would further accelerate the implementation time.
(ii) Cost Effective: IBM Websphere Cast Iron TIPs helps companies reduce integration costs by much as 80% compared to the custom code.
(iii) Ease of Access: IBM Websphere Cast Iron is very simple and easy to understand. It makes life easier by using no coding approach. So which in turn the companies need not invest on highly skilled experts for integration projects.
(iv) Maximize productivity: IBM Websphere Cast Iron gives real time data sync between the cloud applications and on – premise applications and in turn increases the overall productivity of the company.
IBM Websphere Cast Iron offers the below deployment options which provides the same functionalities namely:
(i) WebSphere DataPower Cast Iron Appliance XH40: A self-contained physical appliance built on market-leading IBM technology that provides everything needed to connect cloud and on-premise applications.
(ii) WebSphere Cast Iron Hypervisor Edition: A virtual appliance that can be installed on the existing servers by using virtualization technology. It provides the same functionality as the physical appliance.
(iii) WebSphere Cast Iron Live: A complete multi-tenant cloud service that we can use to design, run, and manage all of your integrations in the cloud.

