FRENDS Iron is designed to decrease the need for custom development, thus minimizing the overall costs of BizTalk-based integration projects. Simplifying complex integration environments and automating administrative and operative tasks, FRENDS Iron helps businesses run with maximum efficiency. See more details from FRENDS Iron documentation.

Workflow host

Import and host Windows Workflow Foundation 3.5 based workflows into FRENDS Iron. Develop customized workflows by using activity libraries or develop workflows from scratch. Use Iron's capabilities to decrease the need of custom development. Iron contains a number of built-in workflows

BizTalk Server interoperability (One-Way, Two-Way calls)
(S)FTP(S) protocols and workflows skeletons
FRENDS Cobalt workflow
FRENDS Radon workflow

Scheduling and triggering

Schedule any artifact in Iron by using intuitive, simple and advanced scheduling capabilities. Triggers can be used to decide should a specific WF process should be executed. Develop any custom conditions or triggers with Workflow Foundation.

Metadata

Use FRENDS Iron connection point feature for storing any configuration data or process metadata easily and efficiently. Structure for connection points can be easily designed by XML schema and Iron console populates user interface according to schemas. Connection points can be grouped together by logical expressions easily without any coding. Also connection points can be imported/exported from one system to another. Metadata can be user for example

Manage distributed endpoint parameters
Maintain common configuration store for any workflow logic
Use metadata from any external tool or process via Iron WebServices

Management and monitoring

Iron management console offers a single-view for process status. Workflow tracking and monitoring is possible from the main "traffic-light" view by drilling into workflow execution detail with all the run-time properties. Exporting and importing any Iron artifacts (workflow processes, workflow configurations, schedules, metadata) from one Iron environment to other is easy by management console features. Iron also supports Microsoft System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) with Iron management pack.

Check out some of our documentation for FRENDS Iron:

Technical Prerequisites

Windows Server 2008 R2 / 2008 / 2003 R2
SQL Server 2005 / 2008
.NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Works with BizTalk Server 2009 / 2006 R2

Iron Hands-On Videos

Video 1 - FRENDS Introduction

Covers FRENDS user interface, elements and basic usability. Duration 6:55

Video 2 - FRENDS Demo with Windows Azure .NET Services

Demo implementation using FRENDS, BizTalk Server and .NET Services in retail scenario. Duration 14:39

IRON

TOUR