Announcing the BizTalk Adapter Pack

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At 2008 Microsoft Office System Developer Conference on Feb 11, 2008, Microsoft announced the availability of the BizTalk Adapter Pack.  You can find the links to the data sheet and BizTalk Adapter Pack Office Program at the following website (look for the two hyperlinks at the top).

https://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/evaluation/adapter/default.mspx

Here is some high level information about availability:

  • The BizTalk Adapter Pack will be generally available on March 1, 2008. The adapter pack is licensed per processor.
  • The WCF LOB Adapter SDK SP1 will be available for free download from Microsoft Downloads site.
  • An evaluation version of the BizTalk Adapter Pack will be available on https://download.microsoft.com after April 1, 2008.

FAQ

How is the BizTalk Adapter Pack Sold?

The BizTalk® Adapter Pack is offered separately from BizTalk Server, and does not require deployment of a middle-tier SOA or BPM infrastructure to connect to LOB applications. The adapter pack is licensed per processor. All Microsoft customers will be able to purchase the adapter pack through normal Volume Licensing channels.

 

Do I need BizTalk Server to use the BizTalk Adapter Pack?  

No. The BizTalk Adapter Pack uses Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) for simple connectivity to line-of-business systems. For more complex integration (orchestrations, use of business rules, etc.) customers that start with the BizTalk Adapter Pack can upgrade to BizTalk Server. 

 

Will BizTalk Server customers get the BizTalk Adapter Pack?

When the Adapter Pack ships, it will then be included with BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Developer, Standard, and Enterprise editions. It is not included in the Branch edition. Customers that have already purchased BizTalk Server 2006 R2 with Software Assurance will also have access to the BizTalk Adapter Pack through the Software Assurance program. 

 

Can I still get the adapters that were included with BizTalk Server 2006 R2?

The adapters that shipped with BizTalk Server 2006 R2 (including, JD Edwards, MQ Series, etc.) will continue to ship with BizTalk Server. At this time, they are not available with the BizTalk Adapter Pack.

 

Can customers migrate from the Adapter Pack to BizTalk Server?

As a customer’s solution evolves and they need more extensive business process orchestration or scale, adapters can be easily migrated to a full BizTalk® Server implementation due to shared use of the WCF programming model.

 

When do customers use BizTalk Adapter Pack vs. BizTalk Server?

The BizTalk Adapter Pack provides a simplified way to connect to data from line of business systems or any custom .NET applications. BizTalk Server provides additional capabilities such as service orchestration in SOA environments, EDI, RFID and business rules. 

 

With the BizTalk Adapter Pack customers can start with a simple point-to-point connect and then simply upgrade to BizTalk Server as their needs evolve. This means that our customers have a broader set of choices for connecting systems across platforms. 

 

Are we planning an update to the BizTalk Adapter Pack?

Yes. We are working on updates. A roadmap will be available in the near future.

 

What is the BizTalk Adapter Pack: Office Developers Program?

This program is for Office developers who would like to build applications or connections from line of business systems to SharePoint using the BizTalk Adapter Pack. We provide access to the BizTalk Adapter Pack, support and guidance. Through the program, we will make it easier for Office developers to connect line of business data to the Office applications commonly used by millions of people around the world.

 

What is the goal of BizTalk Adapter Pack: Office Developers Program?

The goal of this program is to engage the SharePoint community and to provide us with customers who can help us expand the BizTalk Adapter Pack scenarios, specifically those that include MOSS and OBAs. 

 

Are any customers live on the Adapter Pack today?

Yes, 7 customers that participated in the TAP program are live today. Case studies will be available in the near future.