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|  |  | Sun Java™ System Application Server Platform Edition 8.1 2005Q1 |  |  |

# Features and Resources

The Sun Java System Application Server Platform Edition 8.1 is a J2EE 1.4 platform compatible server for the development and deployment of J2EE applications and Java Web Services. Production use of this server is free of charge. This page contains the following topics:

- What's New
- Key Features
- Resources

## What's New

Improved Administration: The Application Server supports the remote secure management using either a browser-based console or a scriptable command line interface. The Administration Console's new capabilities include an improved log viewer, a JNDI namespace browser, and an integrated monitoring capabilities.

- New Admin Console features include a completely updated UI, an improved log viewer, a JNDI namespace browser, and integrated monitoring capabilities.
- JMX MBean API provides a rich management interface for remote, secure, programmatic administration and monitoring using JMX.

Improved Performance: Application deployment is faster, which makes iterative application development quicker and easier. The runtime performance of EJB components has also improved.

Expanded Platform Support: The Application Server supports additional operating systems, databases, locales, and hardware (See the Release Notes for the latest list of supported platforms).

Migration and Upgrade Tools: These tools enable you to verify J2EE applications for standards conformance and portability, help with migrations from other J2EE application servers (JBoss, WebLogic, WebSphere), and aid in upgrading from previous versions of Sun ONE Application Server / iPlanet Application Server.

Java 2 Standard Edition 5.0 Support: The Application Server supports Java 2 Standard Edition 5.0, which includes enhanced management and monitoring features and many performance and scalability improvements.

JDBC Drivers: The Application Server includes DataDirect™ JDBC™ drivers for major databases. You can use these drivers for deployment.

Web Services Security: Container message security mechanisms implement message-level authentication (for example, XML digital signature and encryption) of SOAP web services invocations using the X.509 and username/password profiles of the OASIS WS-Security standard.

WS-I Profile 1.1: As mandated by the J2EE 1.4 specification, Web Services Interoperability (WS-I) Basic Profile 1.1 enables interoperability for web services applications.

Backend Connectivity with iWay Adapters: Sun Microsystems resells and supports twenty-two iWay adapters to key backend systems (for example, SAP, Siebel, Oracle, CICS, and IBM MQ Series) to help customers leverage existing IT applications from the Application Server environment. These adapters support the J2EE Connector Architecture 1.5 specification and web services standards (SOAP), and include developer tools to reduce time to connect to backend applications.

## Key Features

J2EE 1.4 Platform Support: This release implements all of the specifications covered by the J2EE 1.4 platform. For a complete list of the J2EE technologies included, see the Release Notes.

JavaServer Faces 1.1: The Application Server now supports JavaServer Faces 1.1, which simplifies building user interfaces for Java Server applications. Developers can quickly build web applications by assembling reusable UI components in a page, connecting the components to an application data source, and wiring client-generated events to server-side event handlers.

JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library 1.1: The Application Server supports the JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library (JSTL) 1.1, which encapsulates core functionality common to many JSP applications.

Administrative Tools: The Application Server includes a command-line tool and a browser-based Administration Console GUI.

High Performance Message Delivery: This product supports concurrent message delivery with the Sun Java System Message Queue software.

Developer Tool Integration: The Application Server supports the NetBeans IDE and Sun Java Studio Creator.

## Resources

Feedback Submittal Form: Use the J2EE Feedback Submittal Form to submit feedback on this product.

J2EE-INTEREST List: The J2EE-INTEREST list is a mailing list for questions about the J2EE platform.

Bug Database on Java Developer Connection: To view bugs or to submit a bug, use the Java Developer Connection Bug Parade.

Java Enteprise Community: Part of java.net, the Java Enteprise Community is centered around J2EE applications, components, and tools.

Sun Technology Forums: The Sun Developer Forums are interactive message boards for sharing knowledge and questions about technologies and programming techniques. Use the Application & Integration Servers forum for discussions related to the Application Server.

Sun Software Support Service: Sun Software Support Service Standard contracts are available for purchase.

Sun Developer Network: For further help and to keep on top of the latest developments, join the Sun Developer Network.

Release Notes and Product Documentation: The Release Notes, Installation Notes, and other product documentation are posted on docs.sun.com.

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