IT Architecture Team Report:
Administrative Distributed Computing Infrastructure

Overview

The infrastructure for Distributed Administrative Applications consists of the desktop, the servers and central services that run on those servers, the network  that connects the desktops and servers, and the various Administrative Applications that use the above resources to deliver business solutions to administrative departments.

The architectures for distributed administrative computing are n-tier client server based and can be broken down into 3 general categories: ERP/Peoplesoft, J2EE, and Fat Client.  The preferred Architecture for applications developed by Administrative Information Services is J2EE, a cross platform, vendor neutral, component-based architecture.

Other Architectures are acquired when we purchase commercial packages.  In addition, OIT has developed several in-house "enabling" technologies that offer alternative methods for administrative application development and deployment. These are described in more detail in the Web Access to Databases document.

Application Server/Web server (software)

For Web Servers for distributed administrative systems, the University uses Apache and Microsoft IIS. Apache is the preferred Web server.  The University uses Microsoft IIS only for applications that require it. Weblogic Server and Tomcat are used as the application server.

In the case of Peoplesoft, BEA Weblogic web server is used as the web server and BEA Tuxedo is used as the application server. Both BEA Weblogic web server and BEA Tuxedo applications server are bundled with the Peoplesoft product.

Collaborative Tools

There are four methods (or protocols) for handling e-mail at Princeton University: Exchange-enabled (Enhanced), IMAP (Standard), POP, or WebMail. See Knowledgebase article #9815 for additional information.

Compute/File services

Compute and File services are based on Sun Solaris and Microsoft Windows Server operating systems.  Sun Solaris is the preferred environment for production applications except for applications that require a Microsoft Windows environment.

Database Services

Database services are based on Oracle, Sybase, and SQL Server.  Oracle is the preferred database except for applications that require Sybase or SQL Server.

Desktop Environment

The Desktop environment is Microsoft Windows.

Directory Service

Directory Service is based on LDAP and Microsoft Active Directory

Help Desk

The Help Desk provides essential support for Administrative Applications.

Version Control

Merant PVCS is used for Custom Applications. Package applications currently rely on vendors for version control.

Network Services

Network Services are defined here.

Personal Productivity Tools

Personal productivity tools are primarily based on Microsoft Office, with additional helper applications and utilities as determined by the Desktop Systems Council.

Reporting

Reporting is provided through a number of tools. The current reporting tool is Cognos Reportnet. Many existing reports have been developed using Crystal Reports, SQR, Cognos Tools, and Oracle Reports.

The Princeton Data Mall and the Princeton Data Warehouse are comprehensive data collections that contain detail and summary information.

Security

University applications should use one of two OIT managed services for authentication: LDAP or Windows Active Directory. Where possible, applications should utilize built-in system authentication services, such as the use of appropriate parameters in an .htaccess file for Web applications. Capturing and validating the user’s ID and password within the application through program code is strongly discouraged. Confidential data (including passwords) must be transmitted over the network in an encrypted form, using 128-bit SSL or an equivalent method when SSL is not available. Packaged applications are, where possible, required to conform to comparable standards.

System management Services

System management Services are based primarily upon the Tivoli suite of tools.

Backup/Recovery	Tivoli/TSM
Monitoring	Tivoli Monitoring
Job Scheduling	Tivoli Workload Scheduler
Printing	Dazel
Faxing	MyFax