Middleware

Middleware often falls into a hidden world within computer systems. It includes a broad category of software that connects front-end systems with the back-end. Often the boundaries between back-end and middleware or front-end and middleware are blurred.

One example of a middleware system includes authentication servers that need to be able to handle large numbers of transactions on behalf of other applications that need to authenticate users. These server programs are often developed in C++ and employ techniques such as multi-threading, network programming, IPC mechanisms and special purpose resource management. With this type of system, in addition to needing a robust system, you also need the system to return responses quickly and the system needs to be easy to administer.

Another example of middleware infrastructure is servers that manage network connectivity. Gethos developed a Linux based dial-on-demand solution for use in office parks. In addition to providing network connectivity to the users within the office park, the system also handled all e-mail traffic (incoming via POP and outgoing via SMTP) and provided domain name caching.