Enterprise Architecture, OLAP vs OLTP, Data Warehouse, and Servers
Understanding Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise architecture is divided into different layers:
- Strategy Layer: Defines what the enterprise needs to do to reach its goals.
- Process Layer: Provides an operative vision.
- Service Layer: Provides control over services.
- Applications Layer: Provides the required software.
- Data Layer: Handles data management.
OLAP vs. OLTP: Key Differences
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP): A system used to analyze data from multiple sources.
Online Transactional Processing (OLTP): A system to process data, such as adding, deleting, or updating.
- OLTP is a transactional processing system, while OLAP is an analytical processing system.
- OLAP’s main task is to extract data for analysis, while OLTP’s main task is to add, delete, or update data.
- OLTP is used to present current data, while OLAP is used for analyzing future trends.
- OLAP uses data warehouses and data mining, while OLTP uses files and databases to store data.
Data Warehouse vs. Data Mining
Data Warehouse: A system that pulls data to store it in a single unit, used for large quantities of data, allowing fast and complex queries.
Data Mining: A system for finding patterns, correlations, and information from data sets, allowing the discovery of relationships between data.
Main differences:
- Data mining extracts data from data sets, while a data warehouse collects data to put it in a single unit.
- Data warehousing needs to occur before data mining, as data mining requires these sets of data to analyze.
Domain, Web, and DHCP Servers Explained
- Domain Server: Responds to security authentication requests within a computer domain, assigning access to different users for various resources.
- DHCP Server: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) automatically assigns IP addresses to devices, enabling identification. Local IP addresses are typically used and can be dynamically changed. Static IPs can also be defined by manually assigning an IP and MAC address.
- Web Server: Stores website files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and controls user access to these hosted files.
DBMS Types
Different types of DBMS exist, depending on the application:
- Geographical Database: Stores geographical data representing objects in a geometric space, typically organized in layers for speed.
- Multimedia Database: Stores texts, images, animations, audio, video, etc.
- Distributed Database: A database in which storage devices are not all attached to a common processing unit such as the server.
What is a Database?
A database is an organized collection of data typically stored in a computer system, usually controlled with a Database Management System (DBMS).
Advantages of DBMS
- Different devices and apps can access the database.
- The manager can grant access to many users simultaneously.
- Each user has their own interface to access the information.
- Access can be limited to certain data for specific users.
- Backups can be done, either full or incremental.
- The database can be restored with any backup version if an error occurs.
- Data Integrity: Ensures completeness, accuracy, and consistency of stored data. Accuracy involves standardized data values.
- DBMS improves consistency, preventing data inconsistency where different versions of the same data appear in different places.
- DBMS avoids data duplication, unlike traditional file processing systems.
Evolution from Mainframes to PC
In the 1960s, mainframes and terminals were used, with the mainframe acting as the central processing unit. In the 1970s, microcomputers appeared with their own CPU. Later, personal computers emerged as updated, smaller, lighter, faster, and cheaper versions of minicomputers.
Defining Enterprise Software Applications (ESA)
ESA applications are software solutions addressing various company needs, including CAD, ERP, MRP, and SCM.
Software Selection Tools
Software selection requires a preselection based on user needs, infrastructure, and strategic objectives. Commercial, functional, and technical criteria must be considered.
The entire infrastructure, including hardware, software, services, and future needs, must be considered.
A matrix considering the ability to execute and completeness of vision aids in selecting the most appropriate software.
Customized vs. Commercial Software for Big Enterprises
Large enterprises should choose customized software to adapt it to their specific business needs, providing a competitive advantage, despite the higher investment.