Chapter 10

System Architecture

802\.11

A family of wireless network specifications developed by the IEEE

Access Point

A central wireless device that provides network services to wireless clients

Application

Handles the input, manages the processing logic, and provides the required output

Application Logic

The underlying business rules or logic for an application

Application Server

A computer acting as “middlemen” between customers and an organization’s databases and applications

Bandwith

The amount of data that the system can handle in a fixed time period

Basic Service Set

A wireless network configuration in which a central wireless device called an access point is used to serve all wireless clients

Bluetooth

A form of wireless transmission very popular for short distance wireless communication that does not require high power

Bus Network

A computer network where a single communication path connects the mainframe computer, server, workstations, and peripheral devices

Business Logic

Rules reflecting the operational requirements of the business hat determine how a system handles data and produces useful information

Client

Workstation that users interact within a client/server design

Client/Server Architecture

Systems that divide processing systems that divide processing between one or more networked clients and central server

Corporate Portal

A website that provides various tools and features for an organization’s customers, employees, suppliers, and the public

Data Frames

Traffic on a computer network

Data Processing Center

A central location where physical data was delivered or transmitted in some manner and entered into the system

Distributed Database Management System (DDBMS)

A system for managing data stored at more than one location

Distributed System

Company-wide systems that are connected by one or more LANs or WANs

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

A process that establishes an enterprise-wide strategy for IT resources

Extended Service Set (ESS)

A wireless network configuration made up of two or more BSS networks, which allows wireless clients to roam from BSS to BSS

Extensibility

Refers to a system’s ability to expand, change, or downsize easily to meet the changing needs of a business enterprise

Fat Client

A network design that locates all or most of the application processing logic at the client

Gateway

A router or other network device used to connect to a larger, dissimilar type of network, such as the Internet

Gigabits per second (Gbps)

A bandwidth or throughput measurement

Hierarchical Network

A network design where one computer controls the entire network

HTTP/2

The second major version of the network protocol used by the web

Hub

The center of a star network

Infrastructure Mode

A wireless network configuration in which a central wireless device called an access point is used to serve all wireless clients

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

A professional organization that established standards for telecommunications

Internet Operating System

An online computing environment created by online communities and services, based on layers of shared information that can contain text, sound bytes, images, and video clips

Knee of the Curve

A performance characteristic of a client/server computing environment

Legacy Data

The data associated with an older, less technologically advanced legacy system

Legacy System

Describes older systems that are typically less technologically advanced than currently available systems

Local Area Network (LAN)

A network design that allows the sharing of data and hardware

Logical Topology

A view of network that describes the way the components interact, rather than the actual network cabling and connections

Mainframe Architecture

A system design where the server performs all the processing

Megabits per Second (Mbps)

A bandwidth or throughput measurement

Mesh Network

A network design in which each node connects to every other node

Middleware

Software that connects dissimilar applications and enables them to communicate and exchange data

Multi-path Design

A network design that relies on multiple data paths to increase bandwidth and range, using MIMO technology

Multiple input/multiple output (MIMO)

A wireless networking technology incorporated in the IEEE standards that uses multiple data streams and multiple antennas to achieve higher transmission speeds and substantially increase wireless range over earlier standards

Net-centric Computing

A distributed environment where applications and data are downloaded from servers and exchanged with peers across a network on an as-needed basis

Network Topology

The way a network is configured

Node

A physical device, wired or wireless, that can send, receive, or manage network data

N-tier design

A multilevel design or architecture

Online System

Handling transactions when and where they occur and providing output directly to users

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model

Describes how data actually moves from an application on one computer to an application on another networked computer

Physical Topology

The connection structure of an actual network’s cabling

Platform

A specific hardware and software configuration that supports IT business goals such as hardware connectivity and easy integration of future applications

Point-of-sale (POS)

The part of an information system that handles daily sales transactions and maintains the online inventory file

Portal

An entrance to a multifunction website

Proxy Server

A networking deices that provides Internet connectivity for internal LAN users

Ring Network

A network resembling a circle of computers that communicate with each other

Roaming

A process that allows wireless clients to move from one access point to another, automatically associating with the stronger access point and allowing for uninterrupted service

Router

A device that connects network segments, determines the most efficient data path, and guides the flow of data

Scalabliity

A characteristic implying the system can be expanded, modified, or downsized to meet the rapidly changing needs of a business enterpriseS

Scaling on Demand

The ability to match network resources to needs at any given time; a feature of cloud computing

Semantic Web

An evolution of the web where the documents shared on the Internet have semantic and not just syntax

Server

Computer in a client/server design that supplies data, processing, and services to client workstations

Stand-alone

When personal computers first appeared in large numbers and users could run their own word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, without assistance form the IT group, in a stand-alone mode

Star Network

A network design with a central device and one or more workstations connected to it in a way that forms a star pattern

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

The coordination, integration, and management of materials, information, and finances as they move from suppliers to customers, both within and between companies

Switch

Central networking device in a star network, which manages the network and acts a conduit for all network traffic

System Architecture

A translation of the logical design of an information system into a physical structure that includes hardware, software, network support, and processing methods

System Design Specification

A document that presents the complete design for the new information system, along with detailed costs, staffing, and scheduling for completing the next SDLC phase, systems implementation

Thick Client

A system design that locates most or all of the processing logic at the server

Three-tier Design

The user interface runs on the client and the data is stored on the server

Transparent

A network is transparent if a user sees the data as if it were stored on his or her own workstation

Two-tier Design

A network design where the user interface resides on the client, all data resides on the server, and the application logic can run either on the server or on the client or be divided between the client and the server

Web-centric

A strategy or approach that emphasizes a high degree of integration with other web-based components

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A network spanning long distances that can link users who are continents apart

Wi-fi Alliance

A nonprofit international association formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of wireless network products based on IEEE 802.11 specifications

Wiki

A web-based repository of information that anyone can access, contribute to, or modify

Wi-Max

IEEE 802.16 specifications, which are expected to enable wireless multimedia applications with a range of up to 30 miles

Wireless Access Point (WAP)

A central wireless device that provides network services to wireless clients

Wireless fidelity (Wi-fi)

Family of popular IEEE LAN wireless networking standards

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

A wireless network that is relatively inexpensive to install and is well suited to workgroups and users who are not anchored to a specific desk or location