First BizTalk 2009 beta released
The first public beta of BizTalk Server 2009 is available for download. Microsoft BizTalk Server is used to connect systems both inside and across organizations. This includes exchanging data and orchestrating business processes which require multiple systems.
With this first public beta release of BizTalk Server 2009, Microsoft is delivering the first customer preview of the multi-release road map announced in September 2008 and is giving customers the first look of the feature-complete download. BizTalk Server 2009 supports the latest Microsoft application platform technologies, including Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 SP1, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. BizTalk Server 2009 also delivers expanded new connectivity options including new integration with Oracle Corp.’s E-Business Suite, as well as updated platform support for the most recent versions of IBM Corp.’s Customer Information Control System (CICS), Information Management System (IMS), DB2, DB2/400, DB2 Universal Database and WebSphere MQ.
Customers also will benefit from BizTalk Server updates in key enterprise focus areas, including connectivity, visibility and platform support, which extend their investments in existing infrastructure, people and applications. BizTalk Server 2009 also delivers improved scalability and reliability through support for SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V virtualization and enhanced failover clustering. It provides significant new enhancements to both individual and team productivity by enabling new interoperability with Microsoft’s application life-cycle management (ALM) solution: Visual Studio Team System and Team Foundation Server. This allows development teams to utilize the integrated source control, bug tracking, team development support, Project Server integration, and support for automating builds via MSBuild for a more seamless development and testing experience.
The BizTalk Server 2009 public beta is available for download and community feedback today at https://connect.microsoft.com. Customers and partners are encouraged to begin developing and testing solutions on this feature-complete beta, and to provide feedback for the final release due in the first half of 2009. As previously announced, Microsoft will continue to target updates of BizTalk Server every two years.