2 - Information System Architecture Flashcards
Information System Architecture
Fundamental concepts or properties of an IS in its environment, as embodied in its elements and relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolution
Architectural Model
An illustration, using available standards, in which the primary concern is to represent the architecture of an IS from a specific perspective and for a specific reason
Principles that can be applied to every IS architecture (9)
1) Architecture models Information Systems boundaries, inputs and outputs
2) An IS can be broken down into a set of smaller subsystems
3) An IS can be considered in interaction with other systems
4) An IS can be considered through its entire lifecycle
5) An IS can be linked to another information system via an interface
6) An IS can be modeled at various abstraction levels
7) An IS can be viewed along several layers
8) An IS can be described through interrelated models with given semantics
9) An IS can be described through different perspectives
Architectual Views (4)
- logical view
- process view
- development view
- physical view
The logical view
supports the realization of functional requirements, i.e. what the IS should provide in terms of services to its users. Decomposition of IS into a set of key abstractions taken from the problem domain, represented as objects (object-oriented decomposition)
The process view
Representation of dynamic aspects of an IS by explaining its runtime behavior, processes, and the interaction between processes
The development view
IS’s software is packed into small chunks (subsystems) that can be developed by a small number of developers (subsystem decomposition)
The physical view
Concerned with topology of IS components on physical layer, as well as physical interconnections. Used to ensure suitable mapping of software components to hardware components
Architectural Patterns
An architectural pattern is an abstract description of a recommended architectural approach that has been
tested and proven in different information systems and environments
Function of Client-Server Architectures
distribute tasks or workloads between the providers of a resource or service (servers) and service
requesters (clients)
Client-Server Architectures Attributes (2)
- A server runs one or more programs that share the server’s resources with clients.
- A client does not share any of its resources, but requests a server’s content or service function
Thin clients
server does most of the work, which may include performing complex calculations and
storing data. Optimized to establish a remote connection to the network, capturing user input, and
displaying output. (e.g. Web Clients)
Advantage Thin clients (1)
Distribution, editing and management of applications easier
Fat client (Application Client)
provides rich functionality independent of the servers and is often
characterized by the ability to perform many functions without this connection
Advantage Fat client (1)
Better perceived user experience
Advantages Client Server Architecture (2)
- easy to add and integrate new participants
- upgrade servers without directly affecting the IS’s
Disadvantages Client Server Architecture (1)
- every server constitutes a single point of failure that may become unavailable
Basic Idea of Tier Architectures
- layers are decoupled as much as possible from one another so as to minimize dependencies
between them - developers acquire the option of modifying or adding a specific layer