AUGIWorld Magazine - May/June 2008 - (Page 23)

ADVERTISEMENT In the last issue of AUGIWorld, I discussed the nuts and bolts of a document management solution as it relates to client workstation deployment. In this issue, I’ll talk about the application server software and the database engine components of the solution. Application Server Software The application server software is the silent piece of the document management system that users don’t see—but IT does. It’s the brains of the document management solution installed on the server. You can think of the application server software as an information broker. It’s what every user connects to and it facilitates data exchange between each user, the database, and the document vaults. Figure 1 illustrates a deployment where all the server side components are installed on one server, including the application server software, the vault server software, and the database engine. In small-to medium-size deployments, I like to recommend keeping all the application server software components on one server. In larger organizations where user and document counts are higher, multiple servers may be required. When the database and the application server software are on different servers, ensure that you have at least a gigabit connection between them; otherwise you are likely to encounter a performance bottleneck. The Database Engine There are three different categories of database engines that document management systems support: Well known name brands like Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle; less familiar commercially available databases; and proprietary ones that are developed and supported by the document management vendor. I am often asked, “Which database is best?” In my mind, the most important question is not “Which database is best” rather, “Which database will best meet my company’s business needs?” If your company has a database standard that IT supports, then you’re set. If your company has no set database standard, then you’ll need to select one. If you’re a small company without consistent access to database experts, I don’t recommend choosing a “high-end” database solution for your implementation. If you do have DBA expertise in house, then a “high end” solution could be a good choice. Beyond the basic criteria of price, performance and scalability, the main driver in today’s interconnected business environment is having access to your data—whether it be through open database connectivity protocols like ODBC or vendor-provided APIs. You also want the document management solutions’ schema to be open and accessible. Your data is your most critical knowledge asset—so make sure you can get at it. As a ﬁnal thought, I encourage you to understand database engine licensing requirements, as they can be difﬁcult to decipher. Most database vendors offer varied licensing options that can make a signiﬁcant difference in your company’s overall investment. Take time to fully understand the options before making your ﬁnal selection. In many cases database licensing is un-metered and compliancy depends on your understanding of the licensing requirements—and the honor system. In the ﬁnal installment, I’ll discuss document vaulting and its many variations. Until then, you can always opt to download my complete presentation from www.synergis-adept.com/nutsandbolts2 that offers more detail on all the topics discussed in this series. Figure 2 illustrates another type of deployment where the application server software is installed on a different server than the database engine. Flexible and scalable solutions support this modular deployment strategy. SynergisSoftware 472 California Road · Quaker town, PA 18951 80 0.836 .5440 / 215.529. 990 0 w w w. synergis- adept .com http://www.synergis-adept.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AUGIWorld Magazine - May/June 2008

AUGIWorld Magazine - May/June 2008 Table of Contents The CAD Manager From Drawing to Display: The Value of Autodesk Impression Designing for Auto-Dimensioning The Proof Is in the Footing Managing Customization and Profiles Getting to Know the Display Manager What's Cooking at Autodesk Labs? On the Back Page

AUGIWorld Magazine - May/June 2008

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