Technical architecture conventions

Technical architecture

The content displayed in this area varies depending on the architecture set elements used and the settings in the configuration file mappings.xml.

The architecture set represents the entry point for the company-wide technology portfolio, which consists of IT components and is structured by the following elements:

  • Reference architectures

  • Architecture building blocks

  • Architecture elements

All information within the area Technical architecture is shown in the way the IT technology architecture was modeled in the architecture set.

For architecture set modeling, the IT architecture mapping model type is used on the top level, with the associated architecture elements assigned directly to the individual layers. For the detailed representation of an individual architecture element, a model of the IT architecture matrix type is assigned.

An architecture set can consist of the following layers, like in this example from the demo database: The structure displayed and its content are determined by the modeling. The structural elements (grey) represent the structure in the Explorer tree and depending on the configuration, the architecture elements (blue) are shown either as subordinate pages or as table entries.

Business process-specific components & services

In this layer, IT components that already include business logic, such as ERP systems, are represented.

First hierarchy

The information of the structural element Business process-specific components & services are displayed at the top without subdivision. In this case, all connected architecture elements are one hierarchy level lower and contain the various IT components. All architecture elements for which the attribute defined in the configuration file is specified are displayed as table entries.

The architecture elements Management processes, Primary processes, and Support processes are displayed in the table as entries. You can add all IT components (application system types) that are connected with these architecture elements via the connection uses.

Standard technology & basic solutions

This layer generally covers standard software products or custom developments providing generic functionality and being used in different kinds of business processes, such as office products, e-mail systems, DMS, CMS, DBMS, etc.   

The information of the structural element Standard technology & basic solutions are displayed in the second position, that is, in line with the object hierarchy in the model.

With sub-entries

All architecture elements for which the attribute defined in the configuration file is specified are displayed as table entries. You can add all IT components (application system types) that are connected with these architecture elements via the connection uses. All other architecture elements are displayed as sub-entries in the Explorer tree. In this example these are the architecture elements Office applications, Business process management, and AIM (Access and identity management).

Infrastructure

This layer includes operating systems, hardware types, network components, and other infrastructure components.

Infrastructure

All architecture elements for which the attribute defined in the configuration file is specified are displayed as table entries. You can add all IT components (application system types) that are connected with these architecture elements via the connection uses. All other architecture elements are displayed as sub-entries in the Explorer tree.

Development

This layer encompasses programming languages, development environments, procedure models, etc.

Development

All architecture elements for which the attribute defined in the configuration file is specified are displayed as table entries. You can add all IT components (application system types) that are connected with these architecture elements via the connection uses. All other architecture elements are displayed as sub-entries in the Explorer tree.