The first floor：
In the first layer, the client interface browser type graphical user interface (GUI) runs on a laptop, desktop, or mobile device. GUI is between the SAP system and the user. It gets the user input, sends the input to the application server for processing, and generates the output.
The second floor：
The application server (second layers in the system) receives and processes the client's request. Next, these application servers send the requests that are processed to a database system (third layers) composed of one or more relational databases.
The third floor:
This includes the central database system composed of database and database management system. It receives the processed client requests from second servers to the database system. SAP's business suite supports databases from different vendors, including databases provided by Oracle, Microsoft, MySQL, and so on. The relational database contains tables that store Lego products, daily operations, supply chains, and thousands of employee data. Managers can easily use the SAP query tool to get reports from the database, because it does not require any technical skills.
2.Explain why distributed architectures are flexible.
A distributed architecture system is a software system in which components on a networked computer communicate and coordinate their behavior by passing messages. These components interact with each other in order to achieve common goals. Data can be stored in multiple computers, located in the same physical location, or may be dispersed on a network of interconnected computers. A distributed database can be residing on a network server on a Internet, an intranet or an additional network or other corporate network.
Distributed architecture stores data on multiple computers, allowing transactions to be processed on multiple computers, rather than only one device to improve efficiency. Users from all over the world may access the same data. This shows that it is more flexible to provide information to users, which is very useful for companies like Lego, which can be extended to many different locations.
Because data are located near the most demanding sites, and the database system itself is parallel, so they can also improve the performance of the machine, so that the load balance between servers is balanced. The high load of a module in a database does not affect the other modules of the database in a distributed database.
They are also more flexible for extending database and transparency, because data can be monitored at the scene of a specific computer, because data may be stored in related departments.
They are economically flexible and can create small computer networks through the functions of a single large computer to reduce costs. You can modify, add, and delete a system from a distributed database without affecting the other modules (Systems).
3.Identify some of the business intelligence features included in SAP’s business software suite.
Some of the business intelligence capabilities embedded in SAP's higher level systems clearly help Lego to solve the existing business challenges and improve profitability.
In supply chain management, the 3D system of SAP is embedded in the basic functions of monitoring and analyzing supply chain activities. With the availability of key elements of popular elements, it enables Lego (middle) management to build appropriate prediction, plan and inventory optimization for their raw material inventory.
At the same time, in the product life cycle management, the higher level system of SAP is equipped with the necessary analysis function, so that managers can identify and analyze the current stage of the product. Considering that the product has reached the stage of maturity, for example, Danish, managers then decide to transfer products to another country that is still in the stage of growth. This, in turn, enables managers to optimize product development and processes and ultimately determine Lego's profitability.
Therefore, the three tier system of SAP is also combined with enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications, mainly for personnel management and development activities. Through general business intelligence, managers can choose the best candidates (based on performance evaluation), arrange their training and make stimulus plans, so as to keep good employees. As a result, it allows Lego managers to track employees' leadership potential, develop their careers and correctly specify human resource plans.
4.What are the main advantages and disadvantages of having multiple databases in a distributed architecture?Explain.
Advantages: Safety
(1)Multiple databases include storage of product data, daily operations, supply chains, and thousands of employees' forms.
(2)Managers can easily use the SAP query tool to get reports from the database, because it does not require any technical skills.
(3)The distributed architecture enables authorised personnel to direct access to the database systems in various locations (including Europe, North America and Asia). They can always retrieve data at any place where efficiency is increased.
Disadvantages: high cost
(1)When the total amount of data in the network is very small, the additional overhead of these transactions may result in performance loss. When non - local data is accessed, users will also see performance degradation.
(2)The use of database space is added. Each table must exist in each database. When the number of tables is very large, the amount of space used may be very large. Administrators have to use database storage parameters to adjust the size of the table and reduce database space consumption.
(3)Administrators must keep the scheme synchronization of all the databases and ensure that the network configuration makes full use of the distributed database environment in terms of availability and performance. While database backups are more flexible in a distributed database environment, multiple databases increase the complexity of the backup process.
Comments
Post a Comment