BTA 1002- Foundation of Business Analytics (Lab)

Chapter 7:Defining the System Architecture

Lab no. 7
This lab counts for 10% of the final grade.

1. Name: Anmol Singh

Student Id: A00246505

1. What is a server? Do all organizations with information systems own servers? Why or why
not?
A server is a computer or group of computers that manages shared resources and makes them available
to users and other computers over a network.

Not all organizations own their own servers.

Some organizations may have limited need for networked computers and shared resources. Even larger
organizations, which need shared server resources, may not own servers, but may outsource the
technology architecture to a hosting company, such as In the cloud.
2. Is the Internet the same thing as the World Wide Web? Why or why not?

The world wide web, or web for short, are the pages we see when we're at a device and we're online.

But the internet is the network of connected computers that the web works on, as well as what emails
and files travel across.

Think of the internet as the roads that connect towns and cities together. The world wide web contains
the things we see on the roads like houses and shops.

And the vehicles are the data moving around - some go between websites and others will be transfer-
ring your emails or files across the internet, separately from the web.

The Internet and the WWW are not the same thing, even though those terms are often used inter-
changeably. The Internet is comprised of the computers and network transmission components (fiber,
cables, areal transmission) and the system software that handle and distribute the messages and the sig-
nals. The WWW consists of all the resources that are available over the Internet. So all the servers that
manage and distribute resources, such as Web pages, are part of the WWW but not necessarily the In-
ternet. So the WWW resides on top of and provides resources via the Internet. We could say the Inter-
net is like the highway system, and the WWW is like all the traffic and trucks and that travel on the
highway, and warehouses that store stuff carried by those trucks.
BTA 1002- Foundation of Business Analytics (Lab)
Chapter 7:Defining the System Architecture

3. Describe the parts of a URL.

“http://www.amazon.com/gp/cart/view.html/ref=nav_cart”
 http: is the protocol header, which indicates what is the format of the message
 “www.amazon.com” is the server name or address. This will translate to an IP address
 “/gp/cart/cart/view.html” is the resource location and name.
 “ref=nav_cart” is an argument that specifies in more detail the resource name.
4. Which is more secure, an app or a Web-based application? How or why?
Probably a custom app is more secure because it can be designed and constructed with unique
and specific security techniques. A Web-based application must conform to Web and browser
standards which could very possibly limit its security features. In other words, the Web
standards are known by all, including hackers, who might be able to compromise the security in
some way.

5. What is the role of protocols in modern software and systems?

Protocols are kind of like the glue that holds the software and hardware together. It is a set of
languages, rules and procedures that set the standards so the different hardware and system
software know how to communicate and interface together.

6. List and briefly describe at least three commonly used Web protocols.
URL is used to identify a specific Web resource that is to be located and retrieved.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is used as the language to write Web pages. Browsers
understand this language and use it to determine what to include on a displayed page and how to
format it.
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a language that is similar to HTML. However, XML
also provides capability to extend the language with new constructs. XML provides capabilities
to define these additional elements, and to specify how to display them.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a language that defines the format and content of Web
requests for documents and other resources. It is understood by Browsers, by Network
computers, and by Servers.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is similar to HTTP, except that when a connection or
conversation is established it is established in a secure, encrypted fashion.

7. Briefly define the terms technology architecture and application architecture. How are they
different? How are they interdependent?
The technology and technology architecture is the underlying computer hardware, network
hardware and system software configuration that is used by an organization. It is the
“platform.”
Application architecture is all the software that resides on top of the technology architecture,
BTA 1002- Foundation of Business Analytics (Lab)
Chapter 7:Defining the System Architecture

and which is used by the business to carry out its daily operations. It is called an architecture
because it has to work together in an integrated fashion as a complete working environment.

8. Describe software as a service. What features distinguish it from application software installed
on a personal computing device?
Software as a Service (SaaS) is the concept where business functions are provided much like a
utility, but delivered onto local computers via the Internet. For example, to carry out accounting
functions a company can buy or build and accounting system, install it, and operate it on a local
network. However, a company may decide that it needs accounting “functions” but not
accounting “systems.” Using SaaS the company will receive accounting services and functions
through the Internet from a separate company that provides that service. The data, as well as the
software, is maintained by the separate company on their own server computers.

9. Describe the key questions that should be asked and answered when a system designer is
describing the environment of a system.
In order to understand and describe the technology architecture and the application architecture
a developer needs to ask specific questions about each. Key questions include:
1. What are the key features of the technology architecture that must be conformed to? This is
required to be able to know under what constraints the new system must be developed and
deployed.
2. What external systems will be used? What database systems (DBMSs) will be used? This
will establish the environment and define the interfaces that must be used.
3. What automated devices will be utilized? Automated devices normally have a predefined
format is used for data transmission and must be conformed to.
4. What user-interface technology will be used? This will dictate how the user-interface must be
constructed and what tools and features will be available.

Problems and Exercises

1. A medium-sized engineering firm has three separate engineering offices. In each office, a local
LAN supports all the engineers in that office. Due to the requirement for collaboration among the
BTA 1002- Foundation of Business Analytics (Lab)
Chapter 7:Defining the System Architecture

offices, all the computers should be able to view and update the data from any of the three offices.
In other words, the data storage server within each LAN should be accessible to all computers, no
matter where they are located. Draw a network diagram that will support this configuration.

2. Describe the following architecture. What does it contain, how is it designed?

BTA 1002- Foundation of Business Analytics (Lab)
Chapter 7:Defining the System Architecture

Answers will vary

■ List the advantages and disadvantages of hosting all server-side hardware and software at the
home office compared with using a large cloud service provider such as Amazon or
Google.