IBM United States
Software Announcement 200-409
November 21, 2000

IBM WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Version 4.1: Integrate Buyers and Sellers in Your e-Marketplace

ENUS200-409.PDF (57KB)

(Corrected on November 30, 2000) Added Passport Advantage part number E17JDML.

At a Glance

Transform and grow your e-business market with WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition (WCS, MPE). Part of the WebSphere software platform, this feature-rich, customizable, extensible, and scaleable solution helps you:

Reduce the time and technical effort required to build and launch a custom marketplace
Extend essential business-to-business transactions to wireless devices
Increase market efficiency and improve inventory liquidity
Create dynamic e-marketplaces that reduce sourcing and transaction costs
Offer dynamic trading models (exchange, RFP/RFQ, and auctions)
Leverage relationship marketing
Streamline purchasing processes
Integrate Web sites with business-critical systems such as inventory order processing and shipping to protect and extend existing investments

For ordering, contact:

Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at 800-IBM-CALL (Reference: YE001).

Overview

WebSphere™ Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition (WCS, MPE) is a comprehensive e-marketplace platform based on distributed architecture and best-of-breed IBM technologies and components. It provides the infrastructure and tools to establish high-performance, full-function, scalable e-marketplaces.

MPE greatly reduces the time and technical effort required to build and launch custom e-marketplaces. Adherence to open standards, a modular architecture, and a high degree of configurability and "customizability" ensure fast time to market for features and valuable services to meet the dynamic needs of growing e-marketplaces.

Key advantages include:

Quick time to market: To meet the urgency of getting to market with a complete solution, this program is designed so that the technical infrastructure can be implemented and operational in just weeks. Browser-based tools, preconfigured options, and a breadth of built-in capabilities make implementation quick and easy.
Leading, proven foundation: The solution is built on the market-proven foundation of WCS V4.1, a complete solution for business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce.
Cutting-edge, out-of-the-box functionality: This feature-rich platform is highly configurable and customizable to support unique industry and market dynamics. It can be adapted and extended in very imaginable ways to support new features, services, and business models.
Pervasiveness: MPE supports pervasive notification of time-critical, e-marketplace events such as RFQs, bids, and other requests.
Open, standards-based architecture: Use of such industry-standard technologies (Java™, XML, PKI, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol [LDAP] and Trading Partner Agreements [TPAs]) ensure long-term viability, extensibility, and interoperability of an e-marketplace built with MPE.
Designed for current and future success: The distributed, modular, component-based architecture can run economically on a single server or scale over multiple servers.

Key Prerequisites

The hardware below is the recommendation for a small configuration. Consult the MarketPlace Edition V4.1 Configuration Planning Guide for further direction.

Four-way 332 MHz PowerPC (7025-F50 or equivalent)
2 GB RAM
1 x Internal Wide SCSI I/O Controller
4 x 4500 GB IBM 16-Bit SCSI Disk Drives
1 x 16 Mb PCI Token-Ring Adapter or Ethernet adapter
Windows NT™ (for the hub administrator)
Netscape Navigator V4.7 or Internet Explorer V5.5

Visit the MPE Web site for information pertaining to tools available via download for wireless access:

http://www-4.ibm.com/software/webservers/commerce/marketplace.html

Planned Availability Date

November 24, 2000

Description

WCS, MPE, built on the proven foundation of WCS, V4.1 (previously known as Net.Commerce), provides an integrated and rich set of flexible business functions on a common base platform for quick time-to-market, extensive flexibility, and rapid application development. It allows for easy internal application integration with back-end systems and external business integration with trading partners. This flexible framework is easily extendible for fast-growing e-marketplaces. This IBM solution is built on and leverages open standards:

Java
XML
LDAP
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
TPAs

By extending essential business-to-business transactions to wireless devices, participants can remain engaged from anywhere, thereby increasing market efficiency and improving inventory liquidity. For example, bidders can receive notifications on auctions they are participating in, such as a request for higher bid, an outbid notice, or even a winning bid notification in real time. Exchanges can rapidly move liquid inventory, saving time and money.

The software offers a feature-rich, customizable, extensible and scaleable solution for fast-growing e-marketplace environments. The comprehensive scope of functionality and out-of-the-box capability greatly reduces the time and technical effort required to build and launch a customer marketplace. It combines ease and speed of development with adaptability and versatility.

Key components include:

Dynamic trading models (exchange, RFP/RFQ, and auctions) to support various business models
Powerful aggregated catalog management framework
Functions for secure membership registration and access control management
Easy-to-use business intelligence
Reporting functions

In addition, this software works in conjunction with IBM WebSphere Everyplace Suite, a server software that includes:

Data synchronization
Transcoding
Device and subscription management
Support of protocols such as the WAP

MPE is designed to support the AIX^® platform.

Year 2000

This product is Year 2000 ready. When used in accordance with its associated documentation, it is capable of correctly processing, providing, and/or receiving date data within and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, provided that all products (for example, hardware, software, and firmware) used with the product properly exchange accurate date data with it.

The service end date for this Year-2000-ready product is December 31, 2001.

Product Positioning

MPE Version 4.1 is part of the WebSphere software platform, the industry's most flexible and reliable software platform for building next-generation, e-business applications.

Trademarks

: WebSphere is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
: AIX is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
: Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
: Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
: Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Education Support

Visit the following Web site for information regarding educational courses offered for this product:

http://www.ibm.com/services/learning

Call IBM Education and Training at 800-IBM-TEACH (426-8322) for catalogs, schedules, and enrollments.

Offering Information

Product information will be available on day of announcement through Offering Information (OITOOL) at:

http://www.ibm.com/wwoi

Publications

The following publications will be available in PDF format as part of the program package and/or via the community Web site.

WebSphere™ Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Installation Guide
WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Reference Guide
WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Customization Guide
WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Loader Package

In addition, IBM e-commerce Solutions (G325-5247), an eight-page brochure that describes IBM expertise in e-commerce, can be ordered.

Displayable Softcopy Publications: MPE user publications are part of the product in PDF format on the CD-ROM.

An extensive online information system is also integrated into the product.

Terms and conditions for use of the machine-readable files are shipped with the files.

Open Enterprise: WCS uses the following Internet open standards:

HTML
XML
HTTP
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
Common Gateway Interface (CGI)
LDAP
Java™

Technical Information

Hardware Requirements

Note: Hardware requirements are dependent upon the size of the marketplace configuration. Information provided below is for a small configuration based on the following maximums: Maximum number of concurrent users is less than or equal to 200. Maximum number of organizations is less than or equal to 100. Maximum number of registered users is less than or equal to 1,000. Maximum number of product offerings is less than or equal to 10,000.

Consult your IBM representative for hardware planning requirements relative to larger configurations.

Four-way 332 MHz PowerPC (7025-F50 or equivalent)
2 GB RAM
1 x Internal Wide SCSI I/O Controller
4 x 4500 GB IBM 16-Bit SCSI Disk Drives
1 x 16 Mb PCI Token-Ring Adapter or Ethernet adapter

The client utilizes a PC capable of running Windows NT™.

Software Requirements

For the server, AIX^® V4.3.2, or later, is required.
For the hub administrator, Windows NT operating system is used as the client.
Netscape Navigator 4.7 or IE 5.5 is required as the Web browser.
To utilize wireless communications for exchanges and auctions, the following are required:
- Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP) Proxy from WebSphere Everywhere Server
- WAP-enabled Pervasive Device
- A service provider (for example, AT&T, MCI, SPRINT) for WAP gateway support
- MPE servers must be reachable by the WAP gateway

Performance Considerations: Production requirements will vary widely depending on many factors associated with the creation and use of your Web site. Contact your IBM representative to help determine your specific requirements.

Planning Information

Customer Responsibilities: You should consider the installation, design, implementation, and maintenance of the WCS system. It is recommended strongly that IBM Global Services or Business Partners be used to assist in these activities, unless adequate in-house skills are available.

In order to implement a complete WCS system, you or a Business Partner should have the following skills:

Basic systems and network administration skills for the AIX operating environment
An understanding of TCP/IP protocols including HTTP and SSL
Experience with a worldwide Web browser such as Netscape Navigator
Experience in administering a Web server including the HTTP Server and LDAP Server
Experience in creating Web content using HTML and Java
Understanding of relational database concepts
Ability to perform basic SQL queries
Programming skills for advanced customization

Direct Customer Support: Direct customer support is provided by Support Line. This fee service enhances customers' productivity by providing voice and electronic access into the IBM support organization. Support Line will help answer questions pertaining to usage and suspected software defects for eligible products.

In the U.S., the WCS for AIX operating environment, V4.1 Support Line is 800-CALL-AIX (225-5249).

Contact your IBM representative for the list of selected services available in your country, either as standard or customized offerings for the efficient installation, implementation, and/or integration of this product.

Installation and technical support is provided by IBM Global Services. For more information call, 800-IBM-4YOU (426-4968).

Packaging: MPE ships on CD-ROM media only.

The following contents are included with the program package:

WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Installation Guide (softcopy located on MarketPlace Edition CD-ROM)
WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition Version 4.1 CD
WebSphere Commerce Suite, Pro Edition Install Guide (softcopy located on Pro Edition CD-ROM)
WebSphere Commerce Suite, Pro Version 4.1 CD
WebSphere Application Server, Advanced Edition Version 3.02 CD
DB2 Universal Database^® (UDB) Enterprise Edition 6.1.0.6 CD
DB2^® UDB Extenders 6.1.1 CD
DB2 Net.Data^® 6.1 CD
Segue Silk Preview for Windows NT Demo CD
SecureWay^® Directory, Version 3.1.1.2 CD
Proof of Entitlement (PoE)
Read Me First Booklet

Security, Auditability, and Control

MPE uses the security and auditability features of the AIX operating environment.

The security and auditability features of the SSL protocol, an Internet open standard, is used to encrypt communications between the Web browser and the Web server.

The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities.

Ordering Information

MPE is licensed and charged per processor.

Licenses must be purchased for all the processors on all the servers or nodes on which all or any part of the program is running, where the program comprises all the server elements (WCS commerce server, Web server, application server, and UDB database server) as defined in the license information.
As an exception to the above, when the architectural choice of MPE implementation is to put the database server on a backend machine which runs no other code of the MPE program, the customer may choose to license this server with UDB EE processor licenses instead of MPE processor licenses.
MPE licenses must be purchased for all processors of staging servers, as well as test and development servers if any are implemented.
When MPE is installed on a backup server, it need not be separately licensed if the server is switched off, or if it is switched on but idle. It need not be separately licensed if the backup server is idle, but subject to instant startup by a high-availability system (for instance, IBM HACMP), which monitors the production server and network for failure. It must, however, be separately licensed and charged if the code on the backup server is doing work. "Doing Work" includes, for example, production, development, program maintenance, and testing. It also could include other activities such as mirroring of transactions, updating of files, synchronization of programs, data, or other resources (for example, active linking with another machine, program, database, or other resource).
For purchases outside of the terms of the Passport-Advantage agreement, processor license entitlements can either be acquired with the physical program package (containing the physical elements defined in the Packaging section of this document, plus 1 x processor license entitlement), or as media-less PoEs.
There is no per-merchant or other client charge for MPE.

Passport Advantage

                                                       Part
Description                                            Number
 
WebSphere Commerce Suite, MarketPlace Edition
for AIX Media Package
 
English (U.S./Canada)                                  BK7WPNA
French                                                 BK7WPFR
Italian                                                BK7WPIT
Spanish                                                BK7WPES
German                                                 BK7WPDE
Brazilian Portuguese                                   BK7WQBP
Japanese                                               BK7WPJA
Korean                                                 BK7WPKO
Traditional Chinese                                    BK7WPTC
Simplified Chinese                                     BK7WPSC
 
VPO Instl WCS V4.1 MarketPlace                         D47B0ML
  Edition
VPO Instl/SW Sub WCS V4.1 MarketPlace
  Edition
    1 Year                                             D47H9ML
    2 Years                                            D47HDML
VPO SW Sub Rnwl WCS V4.1 MarketPlace                   E17HMML
  Edition
VPO SW Sub WCS V4.1 MarketPlace
  Edition
    1 Year                                             D47HPML
    2 Years                                            D47J4ML
CO Instl/SW Sub WCS V4.1 MarketPlace
  Edition
    1st Anniv                                          D47J8ML
    2nd Anniv                                          D47J9ML
CO SW Sub WCS V4.1 MarketPlace Edition
  1st Anniv                                            D47JPML
  2nd Anniv                                            D47JSML
CO Supt WCS V4.1 MarketPlace Edition                   E17JWML
CO Instl/SW Sub/Supt WCS V4.1 MarketPlace              D47K9ML
  Edition 1st Anniv
CO Instl/SW Sub/Supt WCS V4.1 MarketPlace              D47KEML
  Edition 2nd Anniv
CO SW Rnwl WebSphere Comm Ste.                         E17JDML
  MarketPlace Ed. Processor
CO SW Sub/Supt WCS V4.1 MarketPlace                    D47KNML
  Edition 1st Anniv
CO SW Sub/Spt Rnwl WCS V4.1 MarketPlace                E17MQML
  Edition 1st Anniv

Terms and Conditions

Licensing: IBM International Program License Agreement. PoEs are required for all authorized use.

License Information Form Number: WCS V4.1, MarketPlace Edition (00P7988)

Refer to the Ordering Information section for information helpful when planning license requirements for program utilization.

Limited Warranty Applies: Yes

Program Services: Available until December 31, 2001

Money-Back Guarantee: Two-month, money-back guarantee

Copy and Use on Home/portable Computer: No

Volume Orders (IVO): No

Passport Advantage Applies: Yes

Passport Advantage Subscription Applies: Yes

Usage Restriction: Yes

Each valid PoE to the program authorizes you to install and use the program, or any part of the program on one processor. You must acquire a PoE for each use of the program and for each processor. For example, an additional staging server or review server requires the use of a separate copy of the program, so it requires an additional PoE. A separate database server (using the DB2 UDB component of this program) on another processor also requires an additional PoE. PoEs may be acquired separately for each of these products or as multiple PoEs for this program.

License Information for this program is contained on the product CDs.

Consult the IBM Software License Agreements Web site for a complete copy of the MarketPlace Agreement License Information.

http://www-3.ibm.com/software/sla/sladb.nsf

Following is specific terminology regarding use authorization for DB2:

The program includes portions of DB2 UDB. You are authorized to install and use these components only in association with your licensed use of the WebSphere MPE for the storage and management of data used or generated by the program, and not for other data management purposes. For example, this license does not include inbound connections to the database from other applications for queries or report generation. You are authorized to install and use these components only with and on the same machine as the WebSphere MPE.

An unrestricted license for DB2 V6.1 Enterprise Edition is available as listed below with DB2 part numbers:

                                             Part
Description                                  Number
 
License Upgrade With Media
 
English                                      11K6559
French                                       0780538
German                                       0780551
Danish                                       0780555
Finnish                                      0780557
Norwegian                                    0780559
Swedish                                      0780561
Japanese                                     10N1581
Korean                                       10N1583
Simplified Chinese                           10N1585
Traditional Chinese                          10N1587
Brazilian Portuguese                         11K6561
 
License Upgrade Without Media
 
1 Processor                                  41L3136
1 Host User Connection                       41L3137
 
Media Upgrade (France only.  You must use
these part numbers to order in France.)
 
                                             Part
Description                                  Number
 
English                                      0780540
French                                       0780542
German                                       0780546

The agreement provided under PoE governs the use and support of the program with the exception of components of the program which may contain or be accompanied by their own license agreements. The terms and conditions governing such components are provided when installing or starting such specific components, accompany such components in a computer file entitled README.TXT or LICENSE.TXT (or a substantially similar title), or are included among the program's paper documentation, if any.

Support Line: Yes

AIX/UNIX^® Upgrade Protection Applies: No

Entitled Upgrade for Current AIX/UNIX Upgrade Protection Licensees: No

AS/400^® Software Subscription Applies: No

Variable Charges Apply: No

Educational Allowance Available: Not applicable

Prices

Contact your IBM representative for charges information for this announcement.

Order Now

 Use Priority/Reference Code: YE001
 
 Phone:     800-IBM-CALL
 Fax:       800-2IBM-FAX
 Internet:  ibm_direct@us.ibm.com
 Mail:      IBM Atlanta Sales Center
            Dept. YE001
            P.O. Box 2690
            Atlanta, GA  30301-2690

You can also contact your local IBM Business Partner or IBM representative. To identify them, call 800-IBM-4YOU.

Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.