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Robust feature set a plus for Plumtree
CORPORATE content often ends up scattered across the enterprise, accessible
only by brave employees willing to search the data abyss -- and the data is
often outdated and not useful. By organizing documents with a centralized
portal such as Plumtree's Corporate Portal 4.0, enterprise Web administrators
can increase productivity while keeping internal and external users
up-to-date.
Corporate Portal 4.0 is an integrated, modular corporate portal solution
that, with help from Plumtree's consulting team, is easy to set up and
administer. Version 4.0, shipping Oct. 2, is suited for large enterprises
requiring a comprehensive, robust portal solution that is complex yet easy to
administer. This version includes a plethora of new features.
With the use of Plumtree's more than 500 gadgets, small ASP (application
service provider)-based applications that can easily be built by a Web site
developer, enterprises can integrate content from various databases, e-mail
servers, and other applications. Plumtree's gadgets are similar to
Epicentric's modules: Both are designed to deliver content from file servers
as well as Web sites.
As the market leader in the enterprise information portal space, Plumtree
competes closely with Sequoia Software and Brio Technologies in terms of
customization, feature sets, and target customers. Price points are difficult
to compare, as each company offers scalable pricing based on differing
standards. Another enterprise corporate portal solution is Epicentric (see
review, left), which offers a complete out-of-the-box portal solution.
Whereas Epicentric is faster to implement, Plumtree's solution is more robust
and feature-rich.
Hands
on implementation
Plumtree's implementation process is detailed and involves business and
department managers as well as a Web developer and a portal administrator.
Working closely with their customers, Plumtree consultants determine
implementation requirements, integration to existing applications, and
customization needs. Once the organizational requirements have been laid out,
Plumtree's consulting crew installs the portal.
Once the product is installed, managing Corporate Portal requires both a
portal administrator and content manager. In a large organization several
individuals would be needed for each position.
Plumtree's administrator interface is professional and complete with new
features, including auditing, security mirroring, and multiple
authentication. Although not as intuitive as Epicentric's product, once you
understand the basic concepts, administrators will find the administration toolset
comprehensive and straightforward.
One of the new features introduced with this release is the multiple
authentication option. Corporate Portal can also be configured for LDAP
authentication with applications such as Lotus Notes or Novell Netware. We
added our external users via the user database and then provided
self-registration with predetermined user profiles.
Also new to this version is the impressive security mirroring function. The
mirroring ensures that network users' rights are enforced. Access control
lists associated with file directories and the files within them are mirrored
within the Corporate Portal security.
Building
blocks
Similar to Epicentric, Plumtree's Corporate Portal comes with building blocks
to get your portal running smoothly. Plumtree's features are not as easy to
use as Epicentric's, but Plumtree's building blocks include more
comprehensive functionality, including gadgets, syndication, and support
networks. In addition, we could set up an approval process for published
information.
The numerous built-in gadgets for accessing content can be set up to gather
information from various informational sources. Web developers can also
create their own gadgets using open standards and/or the gadget development
kit available with the product.
For corporations building several portal sites, Plumtree's networked portal
and support network functions allow for easy information sharing via links.
Once it is set up, Corporate Portal allows users to personalize their
experience with the MyPage feature. As users, we changed our MyPage's color
scheme and greeting; we also added specific information of interest.
Corporate Portal now offers multiple MyPages and communities for
collaboration teams.
Plumtree's feature enhancement list is extensive; however, some of the
features outlined were not available in the Beta version. Plumtree officials
assured us that all of the features will be available with the shipping
version of Corporate Portal 4.0.
Overall, Plumtree's comprehensive portal solution helps enterprises bring
dispersed information together in a compelling Web interface. Both internal
and external users can drastically improve productivity, and a corporation
can strengthen its brand and image via a consistent interface with their end-user
community, all with Plumtree's solution.
See illustration, "Plumtree's robust architecture a
boon to enterprises."
Epicentric
builds on rapid deployment
Staying competitive in today's economy is an uphill battle for many
corporations. Keeping internal and external users up-to-date on the latest
news and information is a constant struggle and can be extremely
time-consuming. Corporate portals aim to solve this problem by bringing
dispersed information into one centralized location via an easy-to-use
browser interface. And the market is booming. The Delphi Group estimates that
by 2001 the overall portal market will reach $750 million.
Amid all of the hype surrounding the information enterprise portal market --
more than 500 companies claim to have a portal solution -- few companies
actually have a complete solution. Epicentric's Portal Server 3.0 is a
complete turnkey solution that delivers out-of-the-box functionality to
rapidly build a portal as well as subportals for both internal and external
users. This latest release of Portal Server includes several new features.
Portal Server allows companies to share and gather critical business
information efficiently for both internal and external users, and it allows
enterprises to consistently brand themselves throughout one common interface.
The advanced features and ease of administration earned Version 3.0 a Very
Good score.
With Version 3.0, nontechnical users can quickly build a functional portal
site with Epicentric's built-in templates and prepackaged modules for
gathering information. Further enhancement and customization can be completed
incrementally by using industry standards such as Java and XML.
Functionality aside, Epicentric is one of the few companies offering a fully
out-of-the-box portal solution. InfoImage's Freedom 3, scheduled for release
in December, is slated to include complete functionality similar to Epicentric's
Portal Server. Other competitors include Brio Technologies and Plumtree
Software, both of whom offer customizable consultant-based portal solutions.
Whereas all of these competitive solutions are flat-fee based, Epicentric's
solution is priced as a yearly subscription fee and is slightly more
expensive than its competitors.
A
simple process
Installing Epicentric's Portal Server is quite intuitive. The process is
similar to Plumtree's installation, but not as in-depth. Once we had the
appropriate infrastructure configuration, downloading the software from
Epicentric's Web site was easy. Generally the Web administrator conducts the
installation. With Portal Server's out-of-the-box functionality we were
literally running with a functional portal within hours.
Epicentric's built-in tools give nonprogrammers the ability to select portal
layouts from predefined templates. Developers may wish to make changes to
these templates or create their own using JSP (JavaServer Pages). In
addition, Portal Server ships with a slew of modules for connecting to
information sources such as an e-mail application, news-tracker Web sites, or
WebEx conferencing tools. Developers can use these modules for building
integration with other applications such as groupware and CRM (customer
relationship management).
Once the portal is installed, setting up the administration tasks is just as
easy. Using the administrator interface, we defined our chosen modules. We
then added users and assigned them to groups. These groups help administrators
set permissions for what information user groups can access. We easily set up
multiple portals by using the defined page layouts created with Epicentric's
templates.
Administering a portal or multiple portals can become a daunting task for one
person. With Epicentric's Portal Server we could delegate administrative
permissions to other users to ease the administrative workload. We could also
delegate permissions in a granular fashion. For example, we could allow a
subadministrator the ability to administer users in a particular group.
Ease
of use for end-users
Corporate partners, affiliates, customers, and employees will find your
portal easy to navigate and customizable. Depending on the permissions the
administrator has defined, an end-user has some flexibility in how he or she
views the information. For example, users can set colors and fonts as well as
add or delete content. Portal Server also provides a MyPage, where users can
select personalized information and Web sites to be displayed.
Epicentric's customization features for integrating with content sources via
programmable modules are similar to those found in Plumtree's gadgets.
Available on more platforms than Plumtree's product, both Epicentric's and
Plumtree's products are customizable. But Epicentric's rapid deployment gives
it a leg up, whereas Plumtree's sophisticated security features are a plus.
All in all, Epicentric's multilayered, turnkey Portal Server 3.0 is a
complete portal solution for those enterprises looking to quickly implement a
portal. Furthermore, Portal Server allows companies to quickly and
efficiently share critical information with both internal and external users.
Companies will save many hours of organizing and filing information by
implementing a sound corporate portal site with a product such as
Epicentric's Portal Server 3.0 solution.
See illustration, "Out-of-the-box functionality key
for Epicentric."
Senior
Analyst Lori Mitchell (lori_mitchell@infoworld.com)
writes Web project management comparisons and reviews for the InfoWorld Test
Center.
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BOTTOM LINE
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Epicentric Portal Server 3.0 
BUSINESS
CASE
Portal Server 3.0 increases productivity and enables employee and
customer self-service by bringing dispersed information together in a
centralized and easily accessible format.
TECHNOLOGY
CASE
Nontechnical administrators can easily build and design portals with
out-of-the-box functionality. More complex functions will require Java
programming skills.
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PROS
+ Out-of-the-box functionality
+ Multiple platform support
+ Prebuilt modules for connectivity
CONS
- Expensive subscription-based pricing
PLATFORM
INFO
Server platforms: Solaris, Red Hat, HP-UX, Windows NT, Windows 2000;
Database: SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase; Web server: Netscape Enterprise and
Fast Track Servers, Apache, MS IIS, BEA Weblogic
COST
Starts at $120,000 for four CPUs, paid annually
COMPANY
Epicentric Inc., San Francisco; (415) 974-0280; www.epicentric.com
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