Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
that the interface definitions between these components, only from an
interoperability and expectation-from-either-party perspective, are clearly
brought out.
This
sets the stage for the other two perspectives,
so be careful with what is proposed. Keep an eye on the engineering
(team composition, technology awareness, etc.) and execution (timelines,
budget, resource availability, etc.) aspects of the SEE framework. Realize
that the Taj Mahal was built over the course of 12 years and used the
services of more than 20,000 persons!
logical architecture
Engineering Perspective
This is the place to show the physical organization of the logical compo-
nents — the concept of the “n-tier architecture” surfaces here. One will
also describe the data and control flows between the components. Most
of the constraints of the system should get addressed — performance,
scalability, security, portability, etc. A high-level organization of the per-
sistent data store adds completeness.
Deployment Perspective
This is one of the few places in the life cycle of the application to consider
the deployment scenarios for the system. This perspective addresses the
network topology, the physical deployment of the system in terms of
machines and servers, and their size and capability. The deployment
architecture must tie in closely with the engineering perspective, as it
directly affects the constraints.
Kinds of Architecture
Enterprise Architecture
An enterprise architecture defines the structure and behavior of an organi-
zation. The intent is to describe how the organization's constituent people,
processes, and systems can be made to effectively align with its current
objectives and future strategic direction. Given its comprehensive nature, it
helps to weed out inefficiencies and redundancies, and focuses resources
on things that are most crucial to the main goals of the organization.
An enterprise architecture contains four categories of definitions:
1.
Business.
This includes a discussion of the policies and standards
used in the operation of the organization. The various organiza-
tional setups (functional and service) and the business processes
