EXTOL's New 'EDI Appliance' Based on System i Express Model 515

Published: April 17, 2007

by Alex Woodie

As IBM unveiled the new System i Express models 515 and 525 "Windows killers" last week, EDI software developer EXTOL capitalized on the announcement with the introduction of a new EDI appliance, which is based on the new low-end System i Express Model 515.

As the communication method used to transmit orders in industrial supply chains, EDI is a critical business application. If the capability to send, receive, and process EDI messages is reduced, it will likely have a substantial impact on the user's business. This is one argument for putting EDI workloads on the i5/OS server, which is marked by its legendary reliability.

In this regard, it makes a lot of sense for EXTOL to market an EDI Appliance. What better server to run critical EDI workloads, particularly with a starting price of $7,995 for the new Model 515? Existing AS/400 or iSeries shops running ERP workloads may opt for a larger machine, but the Model 515 is designed to attract new customers to the platform.

The EDI Appliance includes EXTOL's core EDI translation software, called Business Integrator, prepackaged on the Model 515. The software is preconfigured to support the AS2 protocol and VAN functionality, and includes other features such as predefined reports, customized views for different users, and automated notifications.

Tony Baran, CEO of Extol, says the new System i Express model 515 provides the advantages of a hosted solution. "However, since it is behind the firewall, it enables much deeper integration with existing applications than is possible with a remotely hosted system," he says.

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