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IT Architecture

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ERP on Steroids
What was the premise made by ERP architects that has proved not to be true? What has been the major result of the initial ERP architecture limitations? How might a more flexible architectural approach help organizations?

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Objectives
Define and discuss importance of IT architecture and infrastructure from management point of view. Describe basic forms of IT architectures Discuss emerging / promising architectures: SOA and Web Services

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Introduction
IT architecture versus IT infrastructure

Architecture (logical)
> Blueprint of what must be built graphical models

Infrastructure (physical)
> Representation of how architecture implemented (hardware, software, networks)

Today, the vast majority of IT architectures are distributed

What does this mean?

Evolution of Distributed Systems

Mainframe Client-server Web What do you think: evolutionary or cyclical?

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Defining the Overall IT Architecture

Helps in the management of complex information systems Brings order in a chaotic environment Provides standards and guidelines regarding how systems will be developed

Oracle is our database platform We will develop all custom applications with Java We will employ an SOA approach for all new applications Needs to keep pace with business change (or anticipate it) Sometimes called chief architect

Must provide support to business strategy

Chief Technology Officer at the helm

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Enterprise IT Architecture Framework

Architecture represented as a series of graphical models Zachman framework

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Todays IT architectures are distributed

Degree to which a system is distributed is dependent on:

Where the processing is done

> > > > Share the work across multiple computers Inter-transactional Intra-transaction Requires system interoperability

How processors and other devices are interconnected

> Redundancy (at least one alternative route)

Where the information is stored

> Distributed databases

What rules or standards are used

> Need system-wide rules

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Modern IT Architectures
Client-server Systems Internet-Based Computing Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) Web Services

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Client Server Computing

Share the work among multiple clients and servers.

(P)resentation (A)pplication (D)ata

Clients: make requests

Servers: respond to requests, provide various types of services.

Thin client (weak): refers to a client with relatively few computing capabilities and most of data processing will be done at the server. Fat client (powerful): refers to a client with greater computing capabilities. 2, 3 and 4 tier (internet-based application) models
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Client Server Computing Two Tier (Web browsing)

Web Browsing: The client in this architecture is thin most of the processing happens on the server
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Client Server Computing Three Tier

The face User interface (Presentation) Some basic processing Makes requests of application server Usually a PC The brains Logic, workflow, decisions Serves requests of client; makes requests of database server

Client

Application Server

Database Server

The brawn Manages data (query, add, delete, change) and data security Responds to requests from the application server

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Client Server Computing - Benefits

Scalable: Work shared across many clients and servers. If more processing power needed, plug in another server Reliable: Many servers: If one fails, work can be shifted to others Maintainable: Support and maintenance costs are less servers can be replaced over time

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Client Server Computing - Drawbacks

Very complex to administer Many more points of failure Security: more ways system can be hacked. Performance: Can be difficult to locate and fix performance issues many potential bottlenecks.

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Internet-Based Computing
Extension of client-server (via Internet) Different models

Server based Peer to peer

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Client Server Computing Four Tier (Web-based applications)

Thin Client (Browser) Presentation only: Web browser Brokers requests between client and application server e.g., renders results in HTML so they can be displayed on a browser. The brains Logic, workflow, decisions Serves requests of client; makes requests of database server

Web Server

Application Server

Database Server

The brawn Manages data (query, add, delete, change) and data security Responds to requests from the application server

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Internet-Based Computing: Server-based

Mobile workers laptops and PDAs (Blackberrys)

Software update difficulties Data security

e.g. Citrix Server (remote desktop)

Applications and sensitive data reside on server

Easier management Lower cost

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IBM, Nokia and Sabre Project: Pervasive Computing

What do you think pervasive computing is? What are the key benefits of this application? What are the key challenges that need to be considered?

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Internet-Based Computing: Peer to Peer

Task distributed to wide number of computers (peers) connected over the Internet

SETI at Home Limewire

Share costs Whole > sum of parts

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Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

The following figure illustrates a basic service-oriented architecture.

Both the sender and receiver know how to communicate, but dont care about the internal workings of each other Services could be within a company, or you could access services from another organization they just need to agreed on how services will communicate

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SOA - Example
Build a supply chain management system out of existing components

New Supply Chain Management Application

Oracle Manufacturing System

Another Companys inventory system (SAP)

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Web services
Second-generation Internet-based distributed system A form of Services Oriented Architecture based on WWW and Internet standards

Software (XML) Communication protocol (SOAP, HTTP, TCP/IP)

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Significance of Web Services

How does it impact business and work?

From proprietary IT architecture to Web Services based on openness of Internet > Agility > Cost avoidance > Pay only for needed functionality

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Todays students
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o Form small groups:

What are the implications for IT architecture for institutions like StFX?

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