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Sun has released GlassFish V2, the next major version of the open source Java Platform Enterprise Edition (Java EE) 5 application server, and its commercially-supported counterpart, the Sun Java System Application Server 9.1. This release adds enterprise features such as clustering, advanced administration and record-breaking performance. In addition, the Sun Java System Application Server 9.1 offers new industry leading cost-efficient annual subscriptions for customers that need production quality support.

GlassFish V2 aims to deliver the major features that are required for scalable and mission critical deployments. Highlighted features include:

• Best-in-class performance – as evidenced in a July 2007 SPECjAppServer benchmark result, GlassFish V2 is the fastest open source Java EE 5 application server available today.
• Clustering – enables enterprises to group servers for scalability and replicate data in-memory for fail over protection and high availability.
• Centralized administration – manage application server clusters and application deployments from a centralized administration console.
• Project Metro – allows for interoperability between Web services hosted on Java technology and Windows environments.
• Open ESB – enables easy integration of Web services and existing enterprise resources. Java Business Integration (JBI) – provides a standardized approach to delivering SOA using Web services.
• NetBeans IDE Integration - enabling developers to deploy SOA applications by designing business process execution language (BPEL) workflows.

"Many enterprises today are choosing open-source alternatives over expensive, proprietary infrastructure software and the GlassFish/NetBeans release represents a compelling option, especially when paired with an open-source operating system such as OpenSolaris or Linux," Karen Tegan Padir, vice president of Software Infrastructure at Sun said.

GlassFish V2 is available for download for Solaris, Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.