Cisco kit may replace middleware

Cisco has announced new network technology designed to remove the need for middleware and provide a common language to support communication between applications.

Cisco Application-Oriented Networking (AON) deploys advanced deep packet inspection technology within routers and switches to analyse the content of XML- and non-XML-based messages sent between applications. It then uses the information to apply priority routing, transaction security and policy abstraction as necessary.

Rob Redford of Cisco's product and technology marketing group said implementing AON on existing Cisco networks could save firms money in developing and integrating middleware applications. He estimated this work represents up to 80 percent of corporate IT budgets.

"Any firm thinking of moving to a service-oriented architecture [SOA] now has an infrastructure that helps them adapt applications without changing them," said Redford. "Whereas SOA requires the building of new applications, AON provides a bridge to existing applications that go back decades using the same message-based architecture," he added.

AON will initially be embedded in add-on modules that fit only into Cisco switches and routers. But it will be hosted on separate network appliances that could fit into non-Cisco networks from next year.

Larry Velez of analyst firm Forrester Research said uptake of AON could hasten adoption of SOAs and web services. But he added that it is too early to estimate corporate interest in AON, or assess how easily it could be integrated into existing networks. Vendors that have so far pledged support for the technology include IBM, SAP and EDS.

"Developers will have to slot [code] into a Cisco switch or router, and it won't affect the IOS router operating system at all," said Velez. "But whether the blade will fit into existing software infrastructure or be able to handle the throughput remains to be seen."

Sandra Rogers of analyst firm IDC said AON will fill a gap in the market. " There is a growing need for this from a technology point of view," she said, adding that SOAs may still take years to fully develop.