Abstracts of Magazine FUJITSU 2015-1 (Vol. 66, No. 1)

Special Issue: Middleware Technology to Support Innovation

Overview

• New Middleware as a Driver of Innovation

Looking to the future, all manner of things will come to be connected to the Internet, resulting in the exchange of massive amounts of information. In that world, innovative approaches to converting constant streams of information into real value will play a major role in growing a company's business and promoting social development. Believing that the three management resources of people, information, and infrastructure are the key elements driving innovation, Fujitsu has announced a Mobile Initiative, Big Data Initiative, Cloud Initiative, and Security Initiative as a system for providing information and communications technology (ICT) products that integrate and use those elements. In this system, middleware—the foundation of solutions and systems—will be given the role of coordinating and integrating a wide variety of services, networks, and mobile devices and of achieving safe and easy-to-manage operations. It will also have the role of supporting innovation in the field for corporate business. Fujitsu is leveraging the know-how it has accumulated in implementing systems both inside and outside the company to promote the further evolution of middleware. This paper describes Fujitsu middleware that supports these four initiatives.

Middleware to Support Mobile Initiative

• Innovation in Field Operations using Smart Devices with Augmented Reality Technology

There is a growing need in the corporate world for improving operations in the field and raising the quality of work through the use of smart devices. To meet this need, Fujitsu provides the FUJITSU Software Interstage AR Processing Server (Interstage AR), which uses augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay digital information obtained via information and communications technology (ICT) on real-world information displayed on a smart device. This product has a variety of features that foster innovation in field operations. It can improve the accuracy and quality of fieldwork by overlaying information such as operating instructions and manuals needed for on-site operations on screens displaying actual facilities and by providing an intuitive and visually appealing navigation system. In addition, it enables users to input messages while in the field, which improves the accuracy of information passed on to others and facilitates preventive maintenance. Furthermore, it makes work more efficient by incorporating a terminal data cache for offline environments or sites with poor signal reception. These features can produce valuable results for customers, such as shortening work-training periods. This paper introduces Fujitsu's approach to putting this product into actual practice and fostering innovation in customers' field operations.

• Mobile Platform Technologies Supporting Use of Smart Devices

Smart devices such as smartphones and tablets are coming to be applied in a wide variety of business scenarios both inside and outside the company thanks to their mobile and portable features. This revolution in work style centered about the use of smart devices was perhaps inevitable, but there are still many needs in system management and development such as enhanced security measures and efficient software development under multiple OSs. To meet these needs, Fujitsu provides a middleware product called FUJITSU Software Interstage Mobile Application Server (IMAPS) and a service platform called FUJITSU Cloud PaaS MobileSUITE (MobileSUITE). IMAPS enables the efficient development and operation of applications for smart devices by providing a multi-platform development environment, a secure application execution infrastructure, and a business operation environment for improving on-site productivity. MobileSUITE provides services that enable functions for content delivery and digital catalogs to be used immediately and also provides Mobile Device Management (MDM) functions. Using these MobileSUITE functions in combination enables prompt support of situations requiring security measures. This paper introduces the features of these two products and presents examples of their application.

• WSMGR for Web: Supporting Mission-critical Applications on Smart Devices—Mainframe in Your Pocket—

Mainframes are widely used for running mission-critical enterprise systems as they provide a high level of reliability while enabling the use of existing assets. An enterprise that combines the use of open systems and mainframes is generally more concerned about the effective use of ICT assets and in particular the use of existing mainframes than a full migration to open systems. At the same time, the surge in using smart devices for business applications in the open-system world is now bearing down on the mainframe world. The FUJITSU Software WSMGR for Web open server software provides an environment in which mainframe business applications can be used on smart devices anytime and anywhere with optimal operability without having to rewrite those applications. Introducing smart devices into business operations, however, brings up difficult issues related to security, operations know-how, etc., so Fujitsu also provides a service called Mainframe Connect as an all-in-one solution that includes network security from the terminal to the mainframe. This paper introduces WSMGR for Web technologies supporting smart devices, mainframe technologies supporting mobile use, and key services that make use of those technologies.

Middleware to Support Big Data Initiative

• Big Data Analysis Solutions for Driving Innovation in On-site Decision Making

Information systems have traditionally been constructed and used for increasing corporate value, developing competitive products, improving employee productivity, and accelerating the decision-making process. Today, however, dramatic improvements in hardware performance, advances in various types of sensors, and changes in the social environment such as consumer-driven dissemination of information via social networking sites (SNSs) are generating a great need for "big data" analysis. In its early stages, the use of big data depended on information and communications technology (ICT) specialists and expert analysts such as data scientists, but today, analysis based on big data has begun to be performed to speed up decision-making at sites directly involved in increasing sales and lowering costs, and some marketing and planning departments have already begun to base their actions on big data. Recently, moreover, high-function middleware to help use big data at these new front lines of business has been appearing. However, issues arising in actual implementations of systems with such middleware have hindered advanced decision-making in the field. This paper introduces Fujitsu's approach to resolving these issues by providing integrated solutions that optimally combine big-data middleware and analysis scenarios and describes the effects of introducing these solutions.

• Technologies for Real-time Use of Information through Integration of Diverse Internal and External Data

As markets continue to diversify, the amount of internal and external enterprise data and the amount of processing required are growing explosively, and the quality of the target data is changing as well. This situation is creating a demand for systems that can quickly and easily analyze and apply massive amounts of data so that market needs can be accurately assessed and sound business decisions can be made. FUJITSU Integrated System Analytics Ready is a hardware appliance product that integrates a series of functions to extract the data deemed necessary from a huge amount of stored data and to analyze and use that information. These functions include "easy-to-implement system," "high-speed database as a platform for analyzing and using data," "operational data store for storing huge amounts of data by simple settings," "data linking for collecting data from diverse data sources," and "data processing by intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs)." Here, the need has also arisen for "safe sharing of consolidated data" to protect stored data from a variety of threats without a loss in customer convenience. This paper introduces technologies for high-speed and safe use of data in response to market needs.

• High-speed Data Processing through Ultra-high-speed Data Management using InfiniBand

Today, many enterprises seek to link core business operations with the processing of big data on computers, so the need is growing for accurate processing of data that can be instantaneously generated in huge amounts. Fujitsu is responding to this need by applying its extensive experience in mission-critical systems and advanced technologies and by offering FUJITSU Software Primesoft Server middleware. The key feature of this middleware is ultra-high-speed in-memory data management using InfiniBand network-interconnect technology, which is becoming widely used in the supercomputer field. The data management is performed in the middleware's network management layer using the remote direct memory access (RDMA) function provided by InfiniBand. This not only achieves response times less than half that of conventional systems but also eliminates compatibility issues by negating the need for modifying interfaces to existing applications. This paper introduces Fujitsu's approach toward realization of a high-reliability system that can provide stable system response times and reduce the risk of accumulating or losing large volumes of data at the time of a system fault.

• Vertically Integrated Database System Combining Advanced Hardware with Database Technologies

To survive in a highly competitive, rapidly changing business world, an enterprise needs information and communications technology (ICT) systems that can respond flexibly and quickly to the market. However, as ICT systems become increasingly complex, the need to reduce their management and operating costs increases. Databases, moreover, are ICT systems having high-reliability and high-performance requirements. The FUJITSU Integrated System HA Database Ready product integrates database technologies cultivated by Fujitsu over many years with advanced hardware. Providing "high reliability and high performance," "open standards," and "ready-to-use" features, HA Database Ready can significantly reduce the costs of deploying, designing, and operating a database infrastructure. This paper introduces a fully redundant system that uses advanced hardware to support high-reliability and high-performance operation and smart software technologies that achieve a full range of tasks from system deployment to system operation, monitoring, and troubleshooting using simple graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

Middleware to Support Cloud Initiative

• OpenStack-Based Next-Generation Cloud Resource Management

FUJITSU Software ServerView Resource Orchestrator (ROR) is middleware for more efficiently operating and managing private clouds. In recent years, many companies have moved to aggregate their internal hardware resources, creating private clouds, while actively utilizing public clouds to reduce system deployment costs. These have produced a greater need for flexible operations of private clouds, demand for the ability to use the diverse application programming interfaces (APIs) that are available on public clouds on private clouds as well, and demand for the ability to centrally manage both public and private clouds. This paper introduces ROR, which uses OpenStack open source software to centrally and easily manage the resources of both public and private clouds.

• Realization of Construction and Simple Operation of Flexible Cloud System by SDN

FUJITSU Software ServerView Resource Orchestrator (ROR) is middleware which realizes centralized management and effective utilization of information and communications technology (ICT) resources such as servers, storage and networks and ICT cost optimization by improving the operation and management efficiency. Applying this middleware makes it possible to construct a flexible cloud system according to the customer's cloud requirements and needs and to simply operate it. One technology to support this functionality is software-defined networking (SDN), which is a control technology that uses software to allow network configurations and settings to be dynamically changed in a centralized manner. ROR is a core product that realizes SDN in the datacenter domain, in particular. Fujitsu's SDN, which features close coordination between ROR and network virtualization-enabled hardware equipment, is in the practical application phase in the Numazu Software Development Cloud Center. This paper describes product features with the focus on the network functions of ROR from the viewpoint of SDN and future outlook in terms of network operation and management of a cloud system.

• Next-Generation Cloud Operation Management Technologies

The difficult business climate in which companies find themselves today is forcing them to make their business and technology processes more flexible and less costly in accordance with their business policies. Many companies are doing this by making greater use of cloud computing systems, and there are a growing number of companies that use hybrid clouds, which combine a private cloud with a public cloud. These trends are increasing the number and variety of resources that must be managed. Moreover, the resources themselves are changing, making it difficult to gain the bird's eye view of the entire information and communications technology (ICT) system that is needed to manage it. Furthermore, new issues are arising, such as the inability of information system departments to control all the clouds used within companies, or to optimize ICT resources on a company-wide basis. This paper introduces FUJITSU Software Systemwalker Software Configuration Manager, developed by Fujitsu, and its technologies for centrally managing and automatically acquiring configuration information for everything from hardware to virtual environments, operating systems, and software. It also introduces FUJITSU Software Systemwalker Service Catalog Manager and its technologies for controlling cloud usage and automatically deploying services.

• Technology to Automate System Operations for Flexibly Responding to Dynamically Changing Cloud Environments

Cloud services (hereafter referred to as "the cloud") and virtualization technologies are rapidly growing in popularity. There is increasing demand for corporate information systems to be efficient, optimized ones which do not consist solely of on-premises components, but also employ private and public clouds where appropriate. Virtual environments and private clouds are often composed of large numbers of physical servers and devices in order to enable them to handle the execution environments of widely distributed operational systems. This shift to large-scale environments composed of diverse server devices has made it difficult to manage these environments manually. This problem has been addressed by creating scripts which perform sequences of commands, reducing management workload by automating system operation work. However, simple automation scripts have difficulty handling operations which span multiple servers. This has made it necessary to create operation procedure documentation, and performing the work detailed in these procedures still presents a significant amount of overhead. This paper introduces Fujitsu's development and operation of FUJITSU Software Systemwalker Runbook Automation, which dramatically improves operation efficiency by standardizing, creating workflows, and automating the operation of corporate information systems, which has until now been done manually.

• High-reliability, High-availability Cluster System Supporting Cloud Environment

Fujitsu is offering FUJITSU Software PRIMECLUSTER, a high-reliability software platform that supports the continuous operation of entire systems. With its highly reliable technology linked to Fujitsu servers (SPARC M10, FUJITSU Server PRIMEQUEST 2000/1000 series, and FUJITSU Server PRIMERGY), PRIMECLUSTER ensures fast detection of malfunctions and secure operational continuity not only in a physical environment but also in a cloud environment, unlike other companies' cluster software. Also, due to a link to the live migration function of the server provided by virtualization software, PRIMECLUSTER enables the server unit to undergo maintenance without changing redundant configurations, or active-standby configurations. This realizes even greater availability for platform systems in a cloud environment. In these ways, PRIMECLUSTER supports continuous operation on a twenty-four seven basis, even in a cloud environment that integrates a customer's business systems. This paper introduces the technology of PRIMECLUSTER, cluster software that supports platform systems in a cloud environment and business systems running in a cloud environment.

Middleware to Support Security Initiative

• Fujitsu's Security Technology Based on Practical Knowledge

Information and communications technology (ICT) is leveraged in wider applications today, and enterprises are faced with an ever-growing need to protect themselves against cyber-attacks, which continue each day to become technically more sophisticated. Measures against these attacks should aim to not only prevent malicious intrusions, but also implement possible countermeasures in case such intrusions take place. It is crucial to respond to a security breach quickly, and the response time significantly impacts security risks such as those relating to data leakage and network contamination. Fujitsu has developed a software suite, FUJITSU Software Systemwalker Security Control (SSC), which follows a preprogrammed operation process and navigates through automated responses against cyber-attacks. This product has already been launched on the market. It helps enterprises to reduce the costs of process programming and actual security operation, and it can automate operation process to enhance flawless security operations by eliminating human error. Fujitsu has integrated its operation management technology with response scenarios developed through the company's practical knowledge. This paper describes a software product with built-in operational processes against standard cyber-attacks based on this technology. It also outlines its features that significantly reduce the response time by automating a series of actions upon detecting malware (network shut-down, identification of infected terminals, response alert to operators, etc.).

• Device Management Technology for Preventing Data Leakage

Security countermeasures against targeted attacks are important elements in preventing the leakage of data such as critical internal company data and customer data. Targeted attacks often focus on known vulnerabilities, making it essential to apply security patches in a timely fashion. However, making sure that security patches are applied to all devices is no easy feat. Even if security patches are applied in a thorough manner, this will not guard against zero-day attacks that target unknown vulnerabilities. That makes it vital to implement security countermeasures which prevent data from being leaked even in the event of malware infection. Fujitsu provides FUJITSU Software Systemwalker Desktop Patrol (DTP) and FUJITSU Software Systemwalker Desktop Keeper (DTK) to solve this problem. DTP is used to centrally manage information and communications technology (ICT) assets and control security. DTK almost completely eliminates the risk of data leaks by applying operation restrictions to ICT assets and logging ICT asset usage. This paper introduces DTP and DTK, which prevent data leakage from endpoint devices (computers, virtual terminals, and smart devices).