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Re: Mercator vs.BizTalk
I'm not initimately familiar with Biztalk but I have
some comments on Mercator.
Speed/Performance: I don't understand your
differentiation. Mercator is event-driven in my
terminology. It easily reads from message queues,
watches for the appearance of files, uses database
triggers, supports Web Services, etc.
EDI Support: I wouldn't rate Mercator as Good/mature
compared to EDI translators but then it isn't an EDI
translator. Commerce Manager is improving with each
release and I haven't evaluated the 6.5 release.
Message Queuing: Mercator supports MSMQ as well as many
other MQ products which is usually considered an
advantage for companies looking for corporate-wide
middleware. BizTalk would require an MSMQ license on
each workstation/server involved just like Mercator.
Workflow Tools: Mercator has the graphically based
Integration Flow Designer for designing "Systems",
collections of maps as well as deployment scripts. They
also have a new product called Business Process
Integrator but I am not familiar with it. It is
described on the MSI site as "Mercator's new process
integration option adds comprehensive process automation
and workflow capabilities to the Mercator Integration
Broker. Key features of the Mercator Process Integrator
include:
-Graphical modeling and monitoring of business processes
-Nonprocedural specification of process interfaces to
applications, data, and middleware
-Posting of process model work items to Mercator maps
and invocation of process models from Mercator maps
-J2EE and CORBA deployment options, including support
for IBM's WebSphere and BEA's WebLogic application
servers
-Interactive tools for process model testing and
management."
>
> I'd like some information from those with experience with either Mercator or
> BizTalk
> (preferably both) that can elaborate on the pros/cons of each of these
> tools.
>
> Based on earlier discussions from within this group, on Usenet, and dug up
> using
> various search engines, I've come up with a preliminary list for your
> consideration:
>
>
> Speed/Performance: Mercator - batch-driven
> BizTalk - event-driven
> Performance-wise it's hard to compare (batch vs. event-driven processing)
> Mercator is acceptably fast, BizTalk ?
>
> Integration: Mercator - many integration adapters
> available
> BizTalk - native access only
> BizTalk primarily uses native access to XML, SQL, etc.
> Mercator has many adapters (Oracle, etc) as well as native support for XML,
>
> EDI, HTML, Java, EJB, JSP, Servlets, CORBA/IIOP, COM, and LDAP
>
> Stability: Mercator - Mature
> BizTalk - ?
> Mercator has the edge in terms of being a mature product relative to the
> new(er) BizTalk.
>
> Ease of use: Neither is particularly intuitive for the uninitiated to
> use.
> However, Mercator has a mature mapping syntax relative to BizTalk.
>
> EDI support: Mercator - Good/Mature EDI support.
> BizTalk - supports EDI
> Need to know the extent to which BizTalk can support EDI/EDIFACT, etc.
> and how robust the mapping/TP management is...
>
> Handling of large documents: Mercator - yes
> BizTalk - ?
> Mercator can handle very large EDI ANSI X12 and EDIFACT interchanges.
>
> OS/Platform Flexibility: Mercator - very flexible &
> multi-platform
> BizTalk - MS Windows only
> BizTalk Server will run only under Windows 2000, and the BizTalk Framework
> assumes that trading partners have primarily implemented Windows-based
> applications that can process BizTalk messages and documents.
> Mercator is scalable and has efficient execution engines, although
> Mercator's products assume that trading partners use SAP AG's ERP products
> and implement B2B workflows across a predominantly SAP-based environment.
>
> Message Queuing: Mercator - no
> BizTalk - yes
> Mercator does not have message queuing built-in, meaning that for
> mission critical transaction transformation, in order to insure no loss of
> transactions, you have to buy an MQseries, or Tuxedo, plus huge
> integration costs.
>
> Workflow Tools: Mercator - no
> BizTalk - yes
> BizTalk has a workflow you can build with a Visio-like interface.
>
>
> ...Since I have very little experience with Mercator (and none with BizTalk)
> I'm
> most interested in the collective experiences of the group in uses these
> integration
> tools, especially with EDI.
>
> Appreciate any/all responses!
>
> Thanks,
>
> - Mark
>
> Mark Rennebaum
> Sr Systems Integrator - EDI/e-Commerce
> Phelps Dodge Corporation
> One North Central Ave
> Phoenix, Az 85004
> 602-366-8055
> fax: 602-366-7303
>
>
>
>
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