GlassFish - World's first Java EE 7 Application Server


How does GlassFish v2 differ from the Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v2?

GlassFish v2 is an enterprise ready Java EE 5 application server delivered by the GlassFish Community. The mature code base is a result of Sun donating the Sun Java System Application Server 8.x to the community. As such, the community is led by Sun with Governance currently being defined. Oracle and Ericsson are also major contributors, donating Toplink Essentials and SIP Servlet technology respectively.

The Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v2 is Sun's commercial offering of GlassFish v2.

The following table describes the features that ship with each bundle:

  GlassFish v2 (1) bundle Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v2 (1) bundle Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server v2 w/HADB (1) bundle
Java EE 5 Compatible X X X
Easy-to-use/robust clustering X X X
Advanced Administration X X X
Best-in-class performance (link ) (link ) X X X
Professional documentation X X X
Jar Installer (2) X    
Graphical Installer (7) (file & package) (8) X X
Support, indemnification Available   X X
HADB (3)(4) for 5 9's of availability (6) (6) X
Mozilla NSS certificate store     X
Data Direct JDBC Drivers^(5)^     X

(1) Any of these bundles can be downloaded and deployed into production for free.
(2) 3rd party Graphical installer. Sun intends to support an open source installer with GlassFish v3.
(3) HADB is free for production use. HADB enables 5 9's of availability, but requires additional setup, configuration and management. For support, an HADB subscription is available and requires an equivalent Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server subscription.
(4) HADB, the High Availability Database. HADB offers 5 9's of availability and is a distributed persistent store for user sessions. HADB is not open source, but is free for use in production. Sun feels that 95+% of deployments will use the easier-to-use robust in-memory session replication. For existing customers that have operational processes in place around HADB Sun continues to offer support. If there is sufficient interest in HADB in the community, Sun can revisit the decision to not open source HADB.
(5) The bundled Data Direct JDBC drivers are free for use with the GlassFish Enterprise Server (subscription or no subscription). The Data Direct JDBC drivers are only available in the GlassFish Enterprise Server with HADB bundle so you'll need to download that bundle. The Data Direct drivers are listed in the release notes. A subscription to the GlassFish Enterprise Server offers production support for the drivers.
(6) HADB is only shipped with the GlassFish Enterprise Server w/HADB bundle. Other bundles can still leverage HADB, but requires the "w/HADB" bundle for installation of HADB. Use Case: User downloads GlassFish or GlassFish Enterprise Server bundle for evaluation. User later decides to try HADB, but wants to leverage existing installation. User would have to download the "w/HADB" bundle to install HADB.
(7) GlassFish v3 and the next major release of the GlassFish Enterprise Server will share a common open source installer.
(8) A lzPack graphical installer for GlassFish V2 UR1 is available thanks to Julien Ponge!