Suggest a opinion on SOA

[Micheal John]

Hi all,
I am in position to learn SOA. For learning SOA what are the things needs to be known prior to start SOA? Whether web service knowledge is must for learning SOA? please suggest and thro some light on it.

What is the best book to start with SOA? and also for web services..

About my skill sets:I have one year of experience in the following technologies:
Core Java
JSP
Servlets
Struts

And also I want to know about what is rule engine?

[Peer Reynders]

A place to start:
SOA antipatterns
IBM developerWorks: SOA and Web services

Web services are seen an enabling technology for SOA. Just because you are doing Web Services doesn't mean you are doing SOA.

Rule Engine.
Jess is a Java example of a Rule Engine. However rule engines are also part of Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) where many Business Rules are executed by a Rule Engine. Current BPMS are trying to leverage SOA in the dynamic management and execution of business processes through BPEL (Business Process Execution Language).

Any one topic - Web Services, SOA, BPMS is large but together they are just monstrous.

A fairly recent and popular SOA book:
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Concepts, Technology, and Design
amazonUS
Prentice Hall
Book Website
Just don't expect to be able to build Web Services after reading it.

Others seem to like
Understanding Enterprise SOA
amazonUS
Manning

There really is no definitive Web Services book (they all have their quirks).
See Sugg. GOOD book for Webservices and Files to create a Java web services by hand for some suggestions.
[ December 06, 2006: Message edited by: Peer Reynders ]

[Micheal John]

Thanks Peer Reynders.. You have given the way how to start/go with.. this is I wanted..

So, First I will take Web Services and Understand some of the basics..
Then SOA...

And regarding the Rule Engine, I have to use the Openrules (www.openrules.com)

Since our project is going to use SOA, Web Services and Rule Engines...

[Reza Rav.]

Service Oriented Architecture (XML field study guide...) from Thomas Erl is very good book for starting