IBM WebSphere DataPower SOA Appliances

IBM WebSphere DataPower SOA Appliances is a family of pre-built, pre-configured rack mountable network devices (XML appliances) that can help accelerate XML and Web Services deployments while extending SOA infrastructure. Originally these devices were created by DataPower Technology Inc., which was acquired by IBM in October 2005.
This WebSphere family consists of rack-mountable network appliances, blade appliances, appliances that rack inside a z/OS mainframe, and virtual appliances .
Appliance list.
Based on Hardware Model 9235.
This hardware model is a 1U rack mountable appliance that has 4 1Gb ethernet connections.
Based on Hardware Model 7198.
This model is a 1U rack mountable appliance that has 4 1Gb ethernet connections and 2 10Gb ethernet connections.
Based on Hardware Model 7199.
This model is a 2U rack mountable appliance that has 8 1Gb ethernet connections and 2 10Gb ethernet connections.
Based on Hardware Model 8436.
This model is a 2U rack mountable appliance that has 8 1Gb ethernet connections and 2 10Gb ethernet connections.
Technical specifications.
DataPower Appliances contain many specialized hardware components, including ASIC-based IPS, custom encrypted RAID drives, and (optional) hardware security modules.
DataPower Appliances operate a single digitally signed firmware containing a Linux-based operating system and application stack. DataPower's firmware runs on a flash storage device. IBM refreshes and enhances the DataPower firmware image every 10–20 weeks. Users cannot run third-party applications on DataPower as they would need a traditional server and operating system. Instead of a traditional filesystem, DataPower runs with a collection of isolated virtual file systems called 'Application Domains.' As a result, DataPower can appear to its client connections to be any type of network file system with any type of folders and links.
DataPower firmware is mostly used to perform electronic messaging functions. It can perform transformation and routing of messages as an enterprise service bus or protect web services interfaces and the architecture behind them from attacks. It helps to integrate any two applications by considering them as services. It is platform and language independent.