Architecture

IFAS Architecture Animation - Click here for demonstration

IFAS is deployed using Web architecture and technology. Our 3-tier typically leverages one Windows2003 or UNIX database server, and a Windows2003 Advanced Server "Web farm". For PC and Macintosh browser support we support Microsoft Internet Explorer on PCs and for most self-service modules we also support Netscape on PCs, and Netscape and Safari on Macintosh.

There are many advantages to this Web architecture:

IT management of software updates is reduced dramatically as upgrades only occur on servers.
Reduced bandwidth requirements between workstation and servers, making remote access more successful.
Use of standard HTTP protocol simplifies firewall configuration.
Stateless model to support load balancing and fault tolerance.
"Expensive/time consuming" operations are pooled/cached to increase throughput.
Dramatically reduced need to upgrade large user base with faster hardware.

The Windows 2003 servers are configured as a server farm using network load balancing so the servers appear as one virtual machine with automatic fail-over support. This configuration also simplifies server maintenance and upgrades.

ASP and RSP are value-added hardware services offered by SunGard Bi-Tech that your organization might wish to consider as an option to supporting additional technology in-house.