Is BAM Tools a prerequisite for EDI/AS2 Runtime in BizTalk Server 2010?

Posted: June 13, 2011  |  Categories: BizTalk EDI

Triggered by a question in BizTalk Forum, I started researching and testing if really BAM Tool is a requirement to install for EDI/AS2 Runtime functionalities.

I was particularly interested in EDI functionality because I’m advising one of my clients to migrate from BizTalk 2006 R2 to 2010 and I really need to know the basic requirements

So, is BAM Tools a prerequisite for EDI/AS2 Runtime in BizTalk Server 2010?

That depends on the functionalities (features) you want to install, but for me the correct answer is NO.

Considerations for Configuring the BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime

BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime is divided into 3 functionalities:

  • BizTalk EDI Functionality
  • BizTalk AS2 Functionality
  • BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime Status Reporting

When you configure the BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime in BizTalk Server 2010, consider the following:

  • Enterprise SSO, Group, and BizTalk Runtime must be configured prior to configuring BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime.
  • BAM must be configured prior to enable the AS2 and/or EDI/AS2 Runtime Status Reporting features.
  • If you are only configuring EDI, then BAM is not required.

In resume:

  • For the last two functionalities “BizTalk AS2 Functionality” and/or “BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime Status Reporting”, BAM Tools must be configured!
  • But if you want ONLY EDI functionality you don´t need BAM Tools.

Proof of concept

I create a machine only with SQL installed (no Analysis Services and no Integration Services) and after installed BizTalk with these components:

EDI BizTalk Components

I opened the “Microsoft BizTalk Server Configuration Wizard” and selected “Custom configuration” option:

EDI BizTalk- Custom Configuration

Note: BAM Tools appears on the right tree because this is necessary only for AS2 and EDI/AS2 Status Reporting feature.

The next step was to configure the following components:

  • Enterprise SSO
    • Enterprise SSO Secret Backup
  • Group
  • BizTalk Runtime
  • Business Rules Engine
  • And BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime with only these two options selected:
EDI Enable BizTalk
  • Leave “BAM Tools” and “Bam Alerts” Disable.
EDI Disable BizTalk BAMTools

Configuration Summary

EDI BizTalk Custom Configuration summary
EDI BizTalk Custom Configuration result
EDI BizTalk Custom Configuration overview

Conclusion

Although the BAM Tools is an optional requirement and even if you don’t use AS2 functionalities, I advise you to install and configure in order to benefit of all EDI functionalities that BizTalk Server 2010 has to offer you.

Author: Sandro Pereira

Sandro Pereira lives in Portugal and works as a consultant at DevScope. In the past years, he has been working on implementing Integration scenarios both on-premises and cloud for various clients, each with different scenarios from a technical point of view, size, and criticality, using Microsoft Azure, Microsoft BizTalk Server and different technologies like AS2, EDI, RosettaNet, SAP, TIBCO etc. He is a regular blogger, international speaker, and technical reviewer of several BizTalk books all focused on Integration. He is also the author of the book “BizTalk Mapping Patterns & Best Practices”. He has been awarded MVP since 2011 for his contributions to the integration community.

5 thoughts on “Is BAM Tools a prerequisite for EDI/AS2 Runtime in BizTalk Server 2010?”

  1. This is a nice observation. For proof-of-concept development it’s ok to not have status reporting for EDI, But in every production environment, status reporting is a crucial part of EDI, so for production environment BAM Tools is required for EDI.

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