TIBCO SmartSockets Features

Programs built with TIBCO SmartSockets require fewer lines of code, and once built, TIBCO SmartSockets ensures that the information is delivered between the component processes in an application in a completely reliable manner. Several TIBCO SmartSockets features make it easy to build programs that communicate with each other in a fault tolerant manner. The key features are:

Insulates you from complexities of network programming:

interoperability in heterogeneous computing environment

transparent multiple protocol support (TCP/IP, PGM, local, custom)

automatic data conversion across heterogeneous platforms

location transparency; sending process(es) need not know location of receiving process(es)

thread-safe API

multi-threaded servers

support for encapsulation and HTTP CONNECT methods for accessing clients or servers across firewalls and proxy servers

Publish-Subscribe communications services:

hierarchical namespace

synchronous/asynchronous message transfer

both peer-to-peer and client-server models

high-speed message routing

one-to-many, many-to-one message transfer

both wildcard publishing and wildcard subscribing

load balancing

multicast ability

Graphical monitoring and administration:

animated graphical tree of your application which updates in real time

graphical view of RTserver connectivity and IPC traffic

point-and-click interface to program and IPC information

watch events as they happen

poll for information at regular intervals

monitoring is non-intrusive; application does not need to be modified

monitor multiple processes simultaneously

support for SNMP

Prioritized message queues:

messages can be worked on first-in, first-out (FIFO) or in priority order

message queue can be searched for messages of a given type before reading

high-priority messages can be placed on front of queue

Guaranteed message delivery:

messages are delivered even in the event of network or system failure

guaranteed delivery can be specified on a message-by-message basis

guaranteed delivery can be specified on all messages of a given type

Fault tolerance:

dynamic message routing across any system topology

automatic detection and recovery from network/system failure

hot failover of clients and servers

auto start and restart of programs

keep-alives (heartbeats)

read/write/connect timeouts

flexible message buffering for both senders and receivers

multiple RTservers

Structured messages:

messages are of a given type; types are defined with a message grammar

messages contain properties, such as sender, priority, or delivery mode, and data

extensive API to create, construct, clone, access, and destroy messages

reusable and extensible message types

messages can exist within another message

message fields can be accessed sequentially or by name

messages can contain XML data

Robust and professional set of programming tools:

object-oriented API with extensive set of callbacks

reusable C++ classes

program and IPC traffic monitoring and debugging tools

message logging

options in text files that require no programming

commands (including commands that set options) that can be placed in text files or entered interactively

upward compatibility as you upgrade to new versions of TIBCO SmartSockets

Simple installation and configuration:

does not require ROOT or SYSTEM privilege to install

does not require a special process or daemon on every machine

does not require any modifications to the operating system kernel

Security services:

message filtering through a gateway process

For an overview of the new features, changes, and enhancements in this Version 6.8 release, see the TIBCO SmartSockets Release Notes.

Platform Support

TIBCO SmartSockets is supported on a number of different computing platforms, including many flavors of UNIX and Windows. This list is expanded frequently. Other platforms may be available. Please contact TIBCO for more information.

Source Code Availability

The TIBCO SmartSockets C++ and Java class libraries are shipped in source form. Most other parts of TIBCO SmartSockets are shipped as executables or as object-code libraries. Please contact your TIBCO SmartSockets sales representative for more information.

Programming Language Support

TIBCO SmartSockets is designed to integrate effortlessly with C, C++, ActiveX, COM, Java, and JMS programs. However, any language that supports a C or C++ binding can effectively use TIBCO SmartSockets. Ask your TIBCO SmartSockets sales representative about other language support.