Federated Search lets users run a single search that actually runs against multiple search engines, and then the results from all the engines are combined.
Two big commercial players:
- FAST Search's Unity product (FAST is now part of Microsoft)
- http://fastsearch.com/l3a.aspx?m=1033
- Muse Global
- http://www.museglobal.com
Two smaller companies with very specific expertise and customize-ability:
- Raritan Technologies' Federation Framework and Connectors
- http://raritantechnologies.com/downloads.shtml
- Deep Web Technologies' Explorit product:
- http://www.deepwebtech.com/product/index.html
Some Other Mentions, Possibly Librarian Focused:
Though we don't have exact links for some.
- Wikipedia had some links posted on their Federated Search page, but they were later deleted by another editor. But you can still see them thanks to the revision history.
- Express (hosted) http://www.webfeat.org/wfexpress.htm
- Enterprise http://www.webfeat.org/wfenterprise.htm
- Also used by Softlink/Quest and InMagic/Presto, both listed below.
- Softlink's Liberty platform has a Quest federated search platform, though not much info.
- http://www.softlinkamerica.com/site/gateway/gateway.slk?displayform=index&library=-1&category=solutions
- Notice their search engine unfriendly url :-(
- InMagic Presto has some type of federation
- http://www.inmagic.com/products/research/presto.html
