Sun Introduces the Next Major Version of the Open Source Java EE 5 (GlassFish V2) Application Server

Enterprise features with support available through new cost-efficient annual subscriptions; NetBeans 6.0 IDE Beta now available.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.-Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA) and the GlassFish community, today announced the immediate availability of GlassFish V2, the next major version of the open source Java Platform Enterprise Edition (Java EE) 5 application server, and its commercially-supported counterpart, the Sun Java System Application Server 9.1. Building on the success of GlassFish V1, this release adds enterprise features such as clustering, advanced administration and record-breaking performance. In addition, the Sun Java System Application Server 9.1 offers new industry leading cost-efficient annual subscriptions for customers that need production quality support.

With GlassFish V2, customers no longer have to choose between open source and enterprise features. GlassFish V2 delivers on the major features that are required for scalable and mission critical deployments. Highlighted features include:

* Best-in-class performance – as evidenced in a July 2007 SPECjAppServer benchmark result, GlassFish V2 is the fastest open source Java EE 5 application server available today.
* Clustering – enables enterprises to group servers for scalability and replicate data in-memory for fail over protection and high availability.
* Centralized administration – manage application server clusters and application deployments from a centralized administration console.
* Project Metro – allows for interoperability between Web services hosted on Java technology and Windows environments.
* Open ESB – enables easy integration of Web services and existing enterprise resources. Java Business Integration (JBI) – provides a standardized approach to delivering SOA using Web services.
* NetBeans IDE Integration - enabling developers to deploy SOA applications by designing business process execution language (BPEL) workflows.

Sun has dramatically reduced the license and support costs of its commercially-supported Sun Java System Application Server, well below proprietary, enterprise alternatives. GlassFish V2 is available for download at: http://glassfish.java.net for Solaris, Linux, Windows and Mac OS X -- bringing a production quality application server to all major software platforms. Learn more about Sun’s commercially supported counterpart, the Sun Java System Application Server 9.1, including new cost-efficient annual subscriptions at http://www.sun.com/appserver.

“Together, GlassFish and NetBeans offer a feature-rich, low-cost platform for developing and delivering applications that meet the demanding needs of the enterprise,” said Karen Tegan Padir, vice president, Software Infrastructure, Sun. “Many enterprises today are choosing open-source alternatives over expensive, proprietary infrastructure software and the GlassFish/NetBeans release represents a compelling option, especially when paired with an open-source operating system such as OpenSolaris or Linux.”

The NetBeans 6.0 IDE Beta offers improved productivity through an integrated and configurable IDE, allowing developers to easily custom-craft their environment by choosing only the tools that they need. The NetBeans 6.0 Beta also includes a powerful new editor and enhanced support for dynamic languages such as Ruby and JavaScript. JRuby is included with the NetBeans 6.0 Beta Ruby support, allowing developers to use Ruby on Rails with existing Java code. Other features of the release include: inspection and navigation capabilities, local history, integrated support for Subversion, and extensive profiling features integrated into the standard distribution making the development of multi-language enterprise applications much faster and less expensive.

In related news, future distributions of NetBeans, starting with the production release of NetBeans 6.0, will be offered under a dual license of the Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL) and the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2). For more information about GPLv2 for NetBeans visit http://www.netbeans.org/gplv2-faqs.html

Sun also offers a tiered set of developer support services for its software offerings, ranging from single incident to comprehensive developer plans. In addition, with a broad portfolio of training and certification offerings, developers can enhance their skillsets to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies. To learn more, please visit http://developers.sun.com/services.