This page contains a detailed comparison of various Business Servers. For a summary comparison, see the Business Server Comparison Summary

	Webcatalog 4.0	Filemaker Pro 5 (Unlimited) & Web Companion	Cold Fusion	Microsoft SQL Server 7 and ASP	Vignette StoryServer 5.0	Lotus Notes/Domino 5.0	IBM WebSphere Studio V3.5 Advance Edition	WebObjects 5.0
Platform	Windows NT, MacOS, MacOS X Server, Solaris, LINUX	Windows NT, MacOS	Windows NT, Windows 2000, Solaris, Linux. (soon HP/UX) (13)	Windows NT	Sun server running Solaris 2.5.1, 2.6, or 2.7, Intel-based server running Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or 6	IBM AS/400, IBM S/390, Linux, Solaris, Windows NT, HP-UX, IBM AIX, IBM OS/2. Client also runs on MacOS.	Windows 2000/95/NT/ 98 (for development). Server 3.5 supports Windows NT/ 2000, Solaris, AIX, AS/400 and HP-UX. 3.02 supports Linux, OS/390 and Novell Netware.	Runs on any Pure-Java 1.3 system. Initially guaranteed for Solaris, Windows 2K Pro and Mac OS X. Development on Windows 2K Pro and Mac OS X.
License Costs US$ unless stated	Around $2500 per server.	Around $1500 per server, plus cost of central server if required.	$495 for Studio (development tool) $1,295 for Professional Edition $4,995 for Enterprise edition. (13)	?	$900 for developer $25,000/cpu for a devel-deploy server $35,000/cpu for a full deployment server	After a year of researching this topic, I'm still not sure. Different answers from different Notes vendors, but fees made up of: Domino software: around $2000 Client license (Notes, NOT Web): around $1300 for 20 clients Client Access License for Web use: around $20 per user, with "user" defined as someone who logs on with name/password. Unsure about non-logon web use.	WebSphere Application Server V3.5 Advanced Edition 128-bit 1 Processor Entitlement $7,102.00 WebSphere Studio V3.5 Advanced Edition (International English Program Pack) $1,900.00	$699 per server. Deployment version included with Mac OS X Server 10.0.
Web Server	Not included, but will work with WebStar, IIS, Apache.	Web Companion provides simple web publishing. Many third-party add-ons provide more sophisticated web publishing, with or without another Web server.	Can use: IIS, MS Personal WebServer, WSAPI,Apache 1.3.6 or later, Netscape Enterprise Server. (13)	Uses IIS	Netscape Enterprise Server 3.5.1, 3.6.2 or 4.0; Apache HTTPD Server 1.3.6 or 1.3.9 (Solaris only) Microsoft Internet Information Server version 4.0 (Windows NT only)	Built-in Domino server; can use IIS and IBM WebSphere.	IBM HTTP server, based on Apache Web Server, including: * An administration GUI * Support for LDAP and SNMP connectivity	Any HTTP server with a CGI, ISAPI, NSAPI, Apache or WAI interface
Database Included	RAM-based flat-file database with reasonably sophisticated searching and summary capabilities.	FIlemaker Pro (sophisticated relational database)	No. Allaire's Spectra available for $15,000. (13)	SQL Server 7		Notes document-centric sort-of-flat-file database.	DB2	Ships with OpenBase Light but can use others below.
Database Connectivity	Uses ODBC to query any(?) SQL database.	Uses ODBC to query any(?) SQL database.	Can connect to SQL Server, Access, FilemakerPro (via ODBC), FoxPro, dBase, Excel, Oracle, Sybase and Informix. (Solaris and Linux limited to Oracle, Sybase and Informix) (13)	SQL (?) and ADO	Sybase SQL Server 11.03 Sybase Adaptive Server 11.5 or 11.9.2 Oracle7 Server version 7.3.4 Oracle8 Server version 8.0.5 or 8.1.5 Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5 with Service Pack 3 or 5 (Windows NT only) Microsoft SQL Server version 7.0 (Windows NT only)	Can both query and be data source via ODBC. Connectors for Notes, Sybase, DB2, Oracle, ODBC, EDA/SQL, and files (1)	Any database with a JDBC interface. Also includes an ODBC Bridge that implements JDBC in terms of the ODBC standard C API. Other databases include Oracle, Sybase, Domino	Includes multitier frameworks that give access to any ODBC or JDBC supported database Gives business objects access to multiple data sources simultaneously (5)
Middleware & Application Language	WebDNA (a unique self-modifying code text replacement). Easy to start using, but difficult to read and understand. Now can also use XML-style syntax, which is easier to read and more Web-editor friendly.	CDML (Claris Dynamic Markup Language) for Web pages, Filemaker script for server side.	Combination of HTML and CFML (ColdFusion Markup Language), some support for other scripting languages and soon JSP. (13)	VBScript and Jscript	TCL Interpreter	Java, LotusScript	JavaServer™ Pages technology (JSPs), full HTML, JavaScript, and DHTML layout capability	Allows development of applications in Java. Integrates with industry-standard development environments that support Sun’s JDK. Drag&drop IDE allows many apps to be developed with no code.
Direct to Web	There is nothing to send "direct to Web". All code execution is done in the context of Web pages.	Simple database layouts can be published to Web with no scripting.		Entire database can be dumped to static pages, but you have to develop the template pages.		Simple database layouts can be published to Web with no scripting. Much of the power of Notes is lost when limited to Web pages.	Simple database driven pages can be produced within a short time frame (No scripting is required)	Provides a turnkey application that is generated at runtime from object-database models Enables modification of the look and function of the application while it’s running with the Web Assistant Allows extension of an application by choosing the part to be changed and creating a component out of it (5)
Design & Development Tools	None. Use text editor or WYSIWYG HTML editors (which must have 360 degree HTML editing). Dreamweaver tag database supplied.	Claris HomePage has support for basic CDML	ColdFusion Studio and Homesite. Dreamweaver and GoLive also have plugin support for some CFML tags. (13)	?	?	Domino Designer Ives TeamStudio IT Factory You can also design more diverse applications with Java, JavaScript, and HTML. The Domino Designer R5 includes a Java editor and Virtual Machine (VM) for compiling the application. With native support for JavaScript and HTML in the Notes client, you can now design applications that run the same on the Web as they do within Notes. In addition, Domino R5 allows you to use third-party design tools, such as NetObjects Fusion, NetObjects ScriptBuilder, and IBM Visual Age for Java. (2)	WebSphere Studio Advanced edition includes Studio Workbench, Servlet Generation wizards, WebSphere Page Designer, Technology Preview XML creation tools, WebSphere Applet Designer, Personilisation Tools, Page Detailer, SCM integration feature, Remote debugging, Visual Age, Perfect Photo and an assortment of evaluation applications (Flash Fireworks, Director and Freehand)	Project Builder for code editing, compiling, and visual debugging Enterprise Objects Modeler for modeling the relationship between business objects in the application and data source schema with its new graphical query builder WebObjects Builder for designing HTML interfaces Interface Builder for creating the layout of applets with JavaBeans and Swing UI elements (5) Support standard with Adobe Golive and Macromedia Dreamweaver.
Deployment Tools	-	-	Web-based administration tool. (13)	?		?	Has an integrated tool called Studio Workbench which manages the deployment of websites.	WebObjects Monitor tool for managing and maintaining application servers Playback Manager for recording sessions and playing them back across a network of client machines Performance statistics reporting tools with dynamically generated graphs Application profiler that highlights ways in which you can tune WebObjects applications for better performance (5)
Pre-Built Modules	Store Builder allows easy generation of complete but simple e-Commerce stores.					A few templates provided eg: Discussion, Doc Library, TeamRoom	A couple of templates are provided as a basis to new projects.	WOFileUpload, WORepetition, hundreds of components. Most HTML elements can be connected directly to Objects.
Third-Party Enhancements	Various Store-building and -management;	?		?		Huge industry providing pre-packaged Notes-based systems from general accounting to resort management.	Has direct importing capabilities for Rational Rose (used for modelling).	ReportMill; Application/accounting builder from StepForward ...
Commerce Support	Optional WebMerchant interfaces to a number of online transaction processing systems, includes web-based account, transaction history & reversal etc.	Many third-party modules.		Interfaces with MS Commerce Server		Lotus Merchant no longer supported. Supposed to use IBM Net.Commerce, which is expensive and limited.	?	?
Email Support	Can send Emails to a lsit of recipients.	Can send Emails to a list of recipients.		Needs third-party plugin to send Email.		Very powerful and sophisticated internal and external mail system that allows total integration with workflow, address books, fax etc.	JavaMail 1.1.3 is an abstract class that models a Mailing system. This feature will be implemented into WebSphere as it incorporates new versions of the Java standard.	Built-in frameworks include sending and receiving mail.
Transaction Support	Everything is possible, but you have to write it yourself.			Everything is possible, but you have to write it yourself.		MQSeries, CICS (Customer Information Control System), and IMS (Infrastructure Management System) (1) Uses transactional logging for faster restarts and data recovery (4)	?	Can use MQSeries.
Performance	RAM-based database, code and templates, so performance is excellent, even for hundreds of thousands of records. However, lack of object/relational capabilities means many searches per page are often needed, reducing this advantage.	Very processor-hungry and does not share the CPU well. Single-threaded, so big searches stop all other users. Not suitable for medium to large loads.	Better than ASP, page cacheing scheme has relieved server load somewhat. (13)	Not well tested, but seems good for simple searches.	Poor performance, somewhat fixed by a good cacheing scheme, which provides reasonable performance for cached (ie semi-static) content.	Very processor-hungry, needs powerful CPU to give acceptable performance. Lack of object/relational capabilities increases need for power.	?	More than adequate. Profiling tools and easy scaling make performance improvement straightforward.
Scalability	No direct support. At the cost of reduced performance for each server, multiple servers can access common SQL databases.	Can support RAIC by running FMPro Server as database server, with multiple copies of FMPro and Web Companion serving Web Pages from the databases.		?		Designed for scalability, runs on large systems (eg AS/400) and can be distributed amongst many servers with auto-synch of databases.	Has been tested and proven to work on all IBM servers. Its scalability was proven during the Olympic games during which it was able to process millions of requests. (AS/400, OS/390, Netfinity etc)	Allows developers to create applications for millions of users through its load-balancing and multithreading capabilities Enables administrators to add servers, processors, application instances, and more threads without requiring developers to change their code. (5)
Reliability	Can be set to write database to disk after every change. This reduces performance but allows clean recovery from crash. No direct support for failover, redundancy etc.	Databases sometimes break and need manual recovery. No direct support for failover, redundancy etc.		?		Local copies of databases can be used while a server is unavailable, then synchronised when available.	?	Provides automatic failover and recovery systems Offers multiapplication server support Provides automatic application restart (5)
Architecture & Layering	Very little: databases, templates, include files and the ability to fetch external Web pages and query SQL databases.	Can support RAIC by running FMPro Server as database server, with multiple copies of FMPro and Web Companion serving Web Pages from the databases.	Can be done -by hand... Business logic is embedded in page. Use of stored prcedures recommended if you need performance. (13)	Can be done-- by hand (8).		Lotus Enterprise Integrator (LEI) and Domino Enterprise Connection Services (DECS). (1)		Separates applications into multiple tiers: the client-based graphical presentation layer, the business logic layers, and the data-access layer Allows sharing of a piece of application logic or data with other existing applications to take advantage of enterprise wide application servers while continuing to make use of the existing business infrastructure (5)
Object-Oriented (abstraction and component reuse)	Not even vaguely. All flat-file. Script fragments can be re-used using include files.	Not really, although it has some very powerful relational features.	Not even vaguely. Hard to reuse code. Abstraction best acheived by keeping logic in the database... (13)	Not even vaguely. OO can be done-- by hand (8). All flat-file, although SQL Server has many relational features.		Not even vaguely. Even worse than flat file, with no relational capabilities, it looks at everything as a document. LotusScript is an object-oriented, event-driven language, but there is no overall support for enterprise object modelling or design.	Java code is object-oriented. Design in rational Rose can be imported.	Completely. Even provides a way of dealing with traditional databases in an object-oriented manner.
Component Reuse	Code snippets can be reused by use of file [raw][include][/raw], which can accept parameters.	Limited to include files	No (13)	?		TEMPLATE - A design that you can use as a starting point for a new database. If it is a design template, it will update database design elements created from the template when the template is updated. (2)	Java classes can be reused. IBM provides tools and resources to assist in the development of pages including prebuilt components.	Dramatically shortens the development process by allowing the reuse of elements such as log-in panels, report layouts, file uploading, and other recurring functional elements Enables development of reusable components, or integrates components available from Apple and others (5)
Protection for Developers	Name/password protection for any page using users.db, including groups. More sophisticated protection possible using own code. Templates can be encrypted (ie made run-only) for distribution to users.	Can define security for each database by using a database of access rights for each user.	Integrated Security System for developers and user level admin. (13)	?		Very sophisticated user registry, with access rights for any group or document set to read/ edit/ author/ designer/ administrator.	?	?
Protection FROM Developers	None. Any WebDNA code that is uploaded to the server has complete access to all files and databases.	Although any CDML code that is uploaded to the server can run, access to scripts and databases is limited.		?		Very sophisticated user registry, with access rights for any group or document set to read/ edit/ author/ designer/ administrator.	?	?
Session Management	Cookies and shopping cart ID, form variables. Name/password for user authentication, can be persistent throughout session.	One user token. Name/password for user authentication, persistent throughout access to particular databases.	Handled in cookies. (13)	Cookies & session IDs		Name/password for user authentication, persistent throughout session. Optional max connections and timeout.	?	Supplies an infrastructure to handle common network application tasks Supports parsing form input from URLs and HTTP headers Automatically creates and identifies sessions Automatically manages failures and reconnects Supports state storage, including encrypted URLs, hidden fields, cookies, static bookmarks, and RAM (5)
Cross-platform and -browser support	Has some support for providing different page content for different browser groups.	Use IF statements and do it by hand.		?		?	Supports all browsers capable of Java.	Works with any standard HTML browser and Java-enabled clients Interfaces with specific client side technologies including QuickTime, AppleScript, JavaScript, and JavaBeans Provides plug-ins to work with any web server, whether it uses CGI, ISAPI, NSAPI, WAI, or Apache Provides source code allowing the application to interface with any operating system platform (5)
XML Support	You can do it by hand...	You can do it by hand...	CFML apparently integrates with XML.	?		Two articles from Notes.Net, first is "what we plan to do", second is "how to do it now" Ned Batchelder: eXtending Domino with XML Exercising XML with Domino Designer	Technology preview XML creation tools.	Makes it easy to build WebObjects applications that interoperate smoothly with other XML-based applications Uses the industry-standard IBM XML parser. Enhances flexibility and portability by using XML for internal communications (5)
Customers	store.smithmicro.com/ showcase/default.tpl	"success stories"		?		http://www.lotus.com/ products/r5web.nsf/ webpress?openview		www.apple.com/ webobjects/ customers.html

References

All unattributed comments are the personal opinion of the author (Thomas Wedderburn-Bisshop) based on years of extensive use (Webcatalog and Filemaker), four medium-sized projects (SQL Server), management of one large project (Lotus Domino), a training course (Cold Fusion and WebSphere) or a number of small and medium-sized projects (WebObjects).

If you wish to add any information or revise what is here, please contact Thomas Wedderburn-Bisshop of Woomera Net Solutions.