Application platformes

Introduction

Fast development of hardware and software affected the development of bank information systems concepts. The overcome concepts of information systems on slow host computers, with the concentration of entering and processing of the data at one place (usually the Automatic Data Peocessing Units of banks), retreated before new technologies of data processingon the principle that the data is processed where it originates. Applying the mentioned principle, the new planning of information systems - to distributed information systems. The development of new software tools in graphic surrounding, relational data bases and the powerful Internet development has contributed to banking systems to adjust to the new surrounding.

Bank's IS project is possible to realize in one of the three types of application platforms:

Host application platform

Data for the bank are stored at the data base on the server (Risc, Pentium). Both the data base and the application are stored at the server (Risc, Pentium). Throuhg the terminal (PC emulation), it is possible to access the program and the data.

Advantages of this kind of work would be:

Easier maintenance of the data base and the application since all of the programs are in the same place.
Cheap investment into hardware, since the work stations can be terminals or PCs with minimal configurations.
The data and programs are protected by regular backup.
Common use of peripheral devices: discs, printers, tape units.

Disadvantages of this kind of work are :

The base and programs are stored at one computer.
Network load is considerably increased since it is used both for the data and the programs.
Because of the use of caracter terminals, it is not possible to use graphic tools for the reports survey and print.
Dependency on the supplier of huge hardware and operating system that enables them to create high prices.

Hardware:

CPU - Pentium 400, 512 Kb cache, 128 Mb

Hard disk 3*9.6 Gb SCSI controller

Data tape unit

Workstations Pentium 32MB, up to 20 pieces

Ethernet (Mylex) network board

X25 communication board

Line printer, 600 lines per minute (or 900)

UPS

Communication modems

System software:

SCO open server, SCO open server development system

For SCO UNIX

ORACLE server 7.x, ORACLE CDE bundle

Eicon OSI PC Gateway, Eicon IP Router

For Windows 98

TCP/IP software for DOS

Client / server platform

The data for the bank are stored at the data base on a separate server (Risc, Pentium). Application is stored on the application servers (Risc, Pentium). Programs are entered to client work stations through application servers.

Application is stored on the client work stations or application servers (Risc, Pentium).

Advantages of this kind of work would be:

Easier maintenance of the data base.
Network loading is significantly decreased since it is used only for the data flow.
Use of graphic tools for survey and print of reports significantly improves the application design.
Cheaper hardware comparing to host computers, and the processor and performace are greater.

Disadvantages of this kind of work are:

Application - programs are stored at client work stations that can be overcome by introduction of greater number of application servers computers (Risc, Pentium). This structure of application organization is suitable for small firms, whereas for banks that has several hundreds of work stations and distribution data base model it has proven really complicated (for distribution and programs maintenance).

Client workstations need to have at least 32 Mb RAM. Although the price of hardware compared to the built-in memory has significantly fallen, that is for many firms with a large number of PCs insurmountable difficulty

Hardware:

Data server

CPU - Pentium 400 MHZ, 512 Kb cache, 256 Mb –
Hard disk (Quantum) 4*9.6 Gb, SCSI controller,Raid
Data tape unit - 2 pieces

Aplikacioni server

Data server CPU - Pentium 200 MHZ, 512 Kb cache,128 Mb –
Hard disk (Quantum) 4*9.6 Gb, SCSI controller,Raid

Client –work stations,

Pentium 200, 512 Kb cache, 32 Mb –
Hard disk (Quantum) 4,2 Gb,
total of up to 70 pieces
Ethernet (Mylex) network board - 2 pieces minimum
X25 communication board
Line printer, 600 lines per minute (or 900) - 2 pieces
UPS - 2 pieces
Communication modems

System software per server:

SCO open server, SCO open server development system, For SCO UNIX
ORACLE server V7.x, ORACLE CDE bundle
Windows Nt
Eicon OSI PC Gateway, Eicon IP Router
For Windows
Netterm (terminal emulator)
TCP/IP software

WEB platform

Advantages of this kind of work would be:

Easier maintenance of the data base.
Network loading is significantly decreased since it is used only for the data flow.
Use of graphic tools for survey and print of reports significantly improves the application design.
Application - programs are stored at application server computers and the programs can be accessed through a browser (Netscape).
Minimal investments in hardware,
Using the Internet, and preparation to use the Internet.

Disadvantages of this kind of work would be:

Program loading lasts long because of the dynamic forming of the WEB page and the slow transfer from Java applet to the client.
Insufficient security when transfering the data from server to client.

Hardware:

Data server CPU - Pentium 400 MHZ, 512 Kb cache, 256 Mb –
Hard disk (Quantum) 4*9,6 Gb, SCSI controller,Raid
Data tape unit – kabinet 4 pieces

Application and WEB server

Data server CPU - Pentium 400 MHZ, 512 Kb cache, 256 Mb –
Hard disk (Quantum) 4*9,6 Gb, SCSI controller,Raid

WEB –work stations,

Pentium 400 MHZ, 512 Kb cache, 32 Mb
Hard disk (Quantum) 4,2 Gb, total of up to 70 pieces
Ethernet (Mylex) network board - 2 pieces minimum
X25 communication board - 2 pieces
Line printer, 600 lines per minute (or 900) - 2 pieces
UPS - 2 pieces
Communication modems

System software per server:

Operating system for Data server
SCO UNIX-WARE 7.x
ORACLE server V8.x,
For Windows 98
WEEB Browser NETSCAPE, Internet Explorer
TCP/IP software