BizTalk Adapter stops polling???

We had some strange behaviour with BizTalk (2004 Sp1 on Windows 2003 Sp1).
Basically a receive location using a polling adapter (MQ, SQL) would stop receiving messages e.g. messages start building up in the queue, table. No event log messages are generated and BizTalk looks like it's behaving correctly, the only way to resolve it was to recycle the host instance ;0). We found nothing on the web about this specific issue from M$ in terms of a BizTalk patch. However several other people have experienced this behaviour (see links below).
We tracked it down to a bug in the system timers class in .Net 1.1. There is a patch that you need to order from MicroSoft to fix the bug. We applied the patch and everything works fine (so far).

http://www.topxml.com/Biztalk-Adapters/rn-208787_SQL-Adapter-stops-polling.aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=900822

Roll on a swift adoption of BizTalk 2006

NHibernate funny stuff

I'm in the middle of changing jobs at the moment, so at present I'm going through my inbox and cleaning stuff up. I came across these gems from the ObjectSpaces (anyone remember it) mailing list.

..first...
The nHibernate project has died... No activity for months. Shame really, the approach was on target.

...and...

nHibernate is currently not active...
For open source, ojb-net has life...
Commercially, ORM.NET, Objectz, Pragmatier are available.

...best of all...
Yukon has crushed these projects.
Wait for Yukon...your OOP soul will live on...


It's interesting to see that of any of the above nHibernate seems to have had the most success.

'Thou shalt version thy contracts' - The importance of versioning

It's always nice to have a concrete real world example of something. I got my example the other morning, my electric toothbrush stopped working. My toothbrush has replaceable brushes (a good idea provided they are in stock). It was time for a change in order to keep the pearly whites gleaming (I'd like to have all my own teeth when I'm 90). I bought a pack of refills for 'my' toothbrush, installation was a cinch ;0). I started it up and .................nothing happened. The motor whirred away happily but the brush didn't move. Why is this? They changed the interface ever so slightly but just enough to break the contract.

What should they have done; repeat after me 'thou shalt version thy contracts'.

I was frustrated, disappointed and annoyed. I stopped using my electric brush and bought a new brush(an old skool brush), one that can't disappoint me!

Service Factory Released

Jason Hogg and Don Smith et al. have opened up the Service Factory on GotDotNet. A tantalising preview was given by Beat Schwegler and Ingo as a part of the Microsoft Architect Forum earlier this year. As a user of WSCF I'm really looking forward to getting my hands dirty with this release (time permitted).

It's a great example of how DSLs and GATT can work in VS 05. The latest drop has WCF support.

BizTalk 2006 Painless Install (beware of BAM Alerts)

I installed 2006 RTM in under 30 minutes the other day including configuration(obviously on a single developer machine ;0). For any biztalkers out there, cast your mind back to the nightmare that was the 2004 install. My compliments to Microsoft, they've taken the pain away.

One thing to note (it's in the upgrade guide I think) I tried to upgrade from an Enterprise beta version to a Developer RTM version; it's not possible. I uninstalled the beta and deleted the BTS databases. Here's why you should always RTFM; if you've previously configured BAM you will have a notification Services alert (probably BAMAlert). When you install the RTM and accept all the defaults your BAM configuration will fail unless you first delete the notification or second rename the notification in the config e.g. BAMAlerts1. Fortunately this was the only issue I had.

My next task start exploring the 3 full scenarios that are provided as samples (the setup of the samples looks painful).

WSCF v0.6 has shipped

Thinktecture just shipped a new version of WSCF, version 0.6. It's available for download from Thinktecture. I've used with the tool from 0.4, I'm really looking forward to seeing what this new one offers.

On the Thinktecture note Ingo Rammer is in town tomorrow for the Microsoft Architect forum, he's talking about Software factories with Beat Schwegler. Ingo is a superb speaker so this should be an excellent event.

/Microsoft and ‘SO’

I was sick yesterday with a bit of a fever a bit ‘non compus mentis’ as they say. All I could think about while in this state was architecture. I remember a thought coming to me through this shrouded reality; Microsoft are subliminally indoctrinating all of us about SO. So, why did I think this?

Next time you listen to an MS guy/gal talking, listen to the first word they say. I can’t guarantee it but for the most part it’s the word ‘so’. Everyone knows that you shouldn’t start a sentence with a conjunction. So, why are they doing it, the only reason I could think of was to drive the SO sword ever deeper. Now as I write this it seems infinitely less plausible, or does it?

Amendments
I looked up the whole conjunction starting a sentence thing it seems that there has definitely been a diminution of this grammatical rule since I were a lad.

Ponder this, thank (replace with your name of divinity or not) that MS aren’t pushing ESBs (see here what Scott Woodgate has to say about this).

BizTalk 74-135 Passed!!

I finally sat and passed the Biztalk 2004 74-135 exam. I'm now BizTalk certified (or certifiable depending on who you taIk to). I've seen lots of requests for tips on this exam. I'll do what I can within the rules of the certification program.

This checklist is targeted mainly at developers who develop but don't manage or administer BizTalk 2004.

I think that the exam is a pretty fair guide of someone's overall knowledge of the BizTalk platform. As described it covers everything the platform has to offer. Therefore if you answer 'NO' to any of the following then I suggest you look to the help and/or the BizTalk Unleashed book.

You know BTS but-

• have you used BAM
• have you used BAS
• have you used HWS
• have you installed BTS
• have you configured tracking
• do you know your pipeline interfaces
• do you know your adapter interfaces
• do you know how to configure BTS for performance

If the answer is no to more than 2 of these questions then aren't ready.

Personally I've never used HWS and I'd be lying if I said I had more than a passing aquaintance with BAS. So I basically took a chance that I would do well on the bits I did know, as it turns out I was must have.

It looks like the 2oo6 exam will be very similar. If you are using BizTalk alot then very little study is required otherwise do it at your own risk.I’m just gutted I didn't do it last year. I've been putting it off since last May.

Positioning this blog in space and time

My very first blog entry! I’ve been putting this off for so long; it’s gotten to be a habit (a bad one). To start I suppose I need to position this blog and set some expectations.

Me:
I’m a solutions architect

This blog:
Every so often I’ve got something useful to give back to the community (or at least I hope I have). I’ve benefited a lot from other peoples blogging endeavours. Now it’s time to give a little back. Along the way I’ve disovered some stuff and I’ve had one or two interesting thoughts that I wanted to share, now I have a home for them.

Right now I’m interested in a couple of things BizTalk and Software Architecture to name but a few. Along the way other technologies might rear their ugly (or not) heads so don’t be surprised.

Me and BizTalk (BizTalk and I)
I’ve been working with BizTalk 2004 for what seems like an age now. I’ve been experimenting with BizTalk 2006 since Beta 1; I even demo’ed BizTalk 2006 at the November launch. I promised at that demo that I would put up a blog and post material from that presentation (expect to see it shortly).

So what should you expect?

• General musings on architecture
• Information on the embryonic Irish Architect SIG
• BizTalk howto’s and stuff that I think is cool in the 2006
• If you've ever wondered how to become an Architect then follow the Chronicles of an aspiring Architect

I think my friend Daragh nailed it on the head when he set the goals for his blog
‘Learning, helping and making a little money’
If I can do that with this blog I’ll be happy.