EBusiness Infrastructure

According to Merriam-Webster (2004), the word infrastructure is defined as follows:1 : the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)2 : the permanent installations required for military purposes3 : the system of public works of a country, state, or region; also : the resources (as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activityWhen applied to eBusiness, the term infrastructure refers to any of the physical components needed to run eBusiness systems and processes. Computers, network equipment, specially designed rooms, and electrical systems are all commonly considered part of an eBusiness infrastructure. In many organizations, the term infrastructure is also used to include the operating systems and technical software that must be installed before any of the business software can operate.

Typical examples of infrastructure components include:Physical Plant- Computer Room- Network Wiring Closet- Battery Backup- Electrical Conditioning SystemsHardware- Server Computers- Equipment racks- Tape Backup systemsSoftware- Web Server software (i.e.

A typical server "rack", commonly seen in colocati...

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English: Macrooms eBusiness Centre Situated on Bow...

Apache)- Applications Server software (i.e. WebLogic, WebSphere)- E-Mail Server (i.e. Notes, Exchange)- WebCast ServerNetwork- Communications lines (switched, leased)- Router- Switch or hub- FirewallArchitectureWhen building an eBusiness capability, decisions must be made in every area of the infrastructure. Even the simplest eBusiness implementation, the single-page Internet brochure will involve a decision at every level.

The architecture of an eBusiness refers to how the infrastructure components will be arranged and connected to operate together. Architecture decisions must be made before the eBusiness is built, and can be guided by asking a few questions about how, when, why, or where the eBusiness capability will be used.

Who will use the eBusiness capability? Will the eBusiness operate as an Internet, Intranet or Extranet system?An Internet system is one that is publicly available to anyone with an Internet-connected computer. Its URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is published to a worldwide network of name...