Using WS-BPEL to Implement Software Fault Tolerance for Web Services
Glen Dobson · 2006
One area of the Web services architecture yet to be standardised is that of fault tolerance for services. At the same time, WS-BPEL is moving from a de facto standard to an OASIS ratified standard for combining services into processes. This paper investigates the feasibility of using WS-BPEL as an implementation technique for fault tolerant Web services. The mapping of various fault tolerance patterns to WS-BPEL is presented. A prototype tool for combining service interfaces into a single facade and configuring fault tolerant mechanisms on a per-operation basis is also discussed. It is found that most fault tolerance patterns readily map onto WS-BPEL concepts, particularly when using the upcoming 2.0 version of the language. Evaluating and minimising the performance overheads involved in process execution is identified as a key future direction, as is working on the functionality and usability of the configuration tool