Introduction to BizTalk Server

Introduction

BizTalk Server 2006 sets a standard in efficient business-process development and deployment by providing an internal architecture with deep integration between messaging and orchestration, as well as a scalable publish-and-subscribe messaging infrastructure. BizTalk Server 2006 unifies many services and development tools in a framework that provides a smooth design experience and a powerful environment for creating and executing business processes.

BizTalk tools and services

The following tools and services are included in BizTalk Server 2006:

· Messaging and orchestration. These services are used to transform, route, and send messages between business processes.

· Application development tools. You use various graphical tools to perform such tasks as creating, testing, and deploying schemas, maps, pipelines, and orchestrations.

· Business rules framework. You can use the business rules framework to seamlessly couple changing business policies and logic with complex business processes.

· Message activity tracking. The Health and Activity Tracking (HAT) tool is used to monitor and debug message activity and orchestrations.

· Web services integration. These services enable you to integrate Web services into a business process or to create a business process that can be published as a Web service.

· Business activity monitoring. You use these services to monitor real-time or archived business statistical data through end-to-end business processes.

· Business Activity Services. The Business Activity Services (BAS) enable you to manage trading partner data and relationships.