Why middleware in Integrations?

[Sha11]

Hi folks,

I just have a simple question in hand, why should we have a middleware in place when Windchill is being integrated with a downstream system. I know that it has the below advantages, are there any other points that speaks to the merit of using a middleware.

i) System configurations does not need any update between different Windchill servers as the source and target system mapping can be done with a middleware.

ii) The formatting and translation of the transferred content can be done and maintained in middleware.

Any inputs is appreciated.

TIA.

[rhart]

We're using a JMS between Windchill and the ERP system.

When ERP is offline, having the JMS there means Windchill can continue the send ESI transaction messages normally, regardless of any issues at the receiving end. When ERP comes back online it can pickup the backlog of queued messages from the JMS and both ends continue like nothing happened.

[vnamboodheri]

Hello @Sha11,

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Thanks,
Vivek N.
Community Moderation Team.

[tarik.wifak.p · Accepted solution]

Hello @Sha11 , the middleware is not needed, Windchill PLM integrates with many applications without any middleware such as the integration with the Workgroup Manager (SOAP Services), the integration with ThingWorx Navigate via RESTful Services etc.

The middelware is required in the integration with ERP Systems, but also not required as you can stick with ERP Connector only (uni-directional communication) or you can use REST Framework if your ERP is REST-Based.

+ The middleware is required in the integration of Windchill PLM with Codebeamer/PTC RV&S or PTC Modeler, PTC calls this integration "Digital Product Traceability (DPT). And the middelware here is not the ESI one is Thingworx Foundation + Flow.

All those integrations are ESI, just because the ERP integration was old it takes the same name whereas the integration with PTC products is called DPT.

Because two different middlewares are used, PTC thinks to make one unified middleware for all kinds of these integrations.

I encourage you to read this LinkedIn article

and see the graphic of Digital Thread: Microsoft OneDrive