Module 9: Designing Solutions with
Microsoft Technologies
278 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Module overview

Module 3: A Services-based
Approach to Solution Design
Module 4: Business Solution
Conceptual Design
Module 5: Business Solution
Logical Design
Module 6: Beginning Physical
Design
Module 1: Course Overview
Module 2: Solution Design Using
the MSF
Module 7: Selecting Solution
Technologies
Module 8: Solution Design and the
Component Object Model
Module 9: Designing Solutions with
Microsoft Technologies
Module 10: Completing the
Physical Design
Module 11: Designing the
Presentation Layer

Module 12: Introduction to
Functional Specifications
Designing Business
Solutions
Operating Systems
Data Access
Data Storage
Review
Activity 9.1: Identifying Operating
System Requirements
System Services
Development Tools
Security
Activity 9.2: Identifying
System Services
Activity 9.3: Identifying
Development Tool Requirements
Activity 9.4: Identifying Data
Access Requirements
Activity 9.5: Identifying Data
Storage Requirements
Activity 9.6: Identifying
Security Models
Module 9:
Designing Solutions
with Microsoft
Technologies
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 279





!
!!
!

Overview
In this module
In this module
"
Operating Systems
"
Activity 9.1: Identifying Operating System Requirements
"
System Services
"
Activity 9.2: Identifying System Services
"
Development Tools
"
Activity 9.3: Identifying Development Tool Requirements
"
Data Access
"
Activity 9.4: Identifying Data Access Requirements
"
Data Storage
"
Activity 9.5: Identifying Data Storage Requirements
"

Security
"
Activity 9.6: Identifying Security Models
"
Review


In physical design, you should select candidate technologies for the solution
design. As you learned in previous modules, these candidate technologies can
be grouped into several categories. For each of these categories, you will need
to select the appropriate candidate technology.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
"
Assess the feasibility of a proposed technical architecture based on the
selected technologies, business requirements, and physical design.
"
Assess the operating system support for a proposed candidate technology.
"
Determine system service features for a proposed candidate technology.
"
Determine the appropriate development tools for implementing the solution.
"
Identify useful data access techniques.
"
Assess data storage options.
"
Identify different application security methods.
"
Identify the characteristics of development platforms, languages, and tools
for a proposed business solution.

"
Evaluate technologies to be used in developing a business solution.
"
Identify the technology options for connecting solutions to existing (legacy)
data and systems.

Slide Objective
To provide an overview of
the module topics and
objectives.
280 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




!
!!
!

Operating Systems
In this section
In this section
"
Windows CE
"
Windows 95/98
"
Windows NT Workstation
"
Windows NT Server and Enterprise Edition

"
Windows 2000 Professional
"
Windows 2000 Server
"
Windows 2000 Advanced Server
"
Guidelines


In this section, you will learn about the different Microsoft
®
operating systems
that are available and the benefits of each. You will also be exposed to some
criteria that can be used to select an appropriate operating system.
Slide Objective
To provide an overview of
the topics and activities in
this section.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 281




Windows CE
"
32-bit operating system
"
Supports new types of hardware
"

Provides high performance with limited hardware
"
Useful for mobile workers and applications


Microsoft Windows
®
CE is a 32-bit multitasking, multithreaded operating
system. It provides many of the operating system features of Windows 95,
Windows 98, and Windows NT
®
to a much smaller platform and allows the
developer to provide much greater functionality in applications that run on
extremely small computer platforms.
Windows CE supports newer, smaller types of hardware such as handheld
computers. In addition, Windows CE provides the potential for having full
applications available with other types of devices, such as televisions or DVD
players. Because Windows CE can communicate with other Windows operating
systems, there is a potential for many new products and services.
The design of Windows CE also allows it to perform well on limited hardware.
Many small computers simply do not have the memory or secondary storage
available for a Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT operating system.
However, Windows CE was designed for a limited-hardware environment.
Windows CE fits well into a solution that requires high mobility. For example,
Windows CE devices are appropriate for e-mail notification, reading reports, or
submitting forms such as purchase requests.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows CE
operating system.

Lead-in
Windows CE is designed for
small, extremely portable
devices.
282 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Windows 95/98
"
Backward compatible with legacy hardware
"
Basic security
"
Requires less hardware to perform well
"
Large existing install base
"
Support for COM components


Windows 95/98 is the direct successor to the Windows 3.1 platform. The large
number of hardware devices that are supported by the operating system
simplifies deploying Windows 95/98. Many environments have a large number
of legacy hardware devices that may not be supported by other operating
systems.
Windows 95/98 provides a basic security system for allowing users to log on to
a network by using a user ID and password. However, the security of resources
within the operating system itself is fairly limited.

Windows 95/98 has smaller hardware resource requirements than other
operating systems. For example, Windows 95/98 requires less memory than
Windows NT Workstation.
Finally, Windows 95/98 is fairly mature and has a large existing install base.
This translates into a large pool of technicians who are familiar with the
Windows 95/98 architecture and who can deal with problems effectively.
Finally, Windows 95/98 supports the use of Component Object Model (COM)
and DCOM components in applications and participates in Windows NT
networks.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows
95/98 operating system.
Lead-in
Windows 95/98 is the direct
successor to the Windows
3.1 platform.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 283




Windows NT Workstation
"
32-bit multithreading operating system
"
High-security architecture
"
Supports centralized management
"

Efficiently scales to high-performance hardware


Windows NT Workstation is a 32-bit multithreading operating system. Its
architecture enables the operating system to control access to resources and
supports greater reliability. The operating system, not the applications, is
responsible for multitasking, memory management, and resource access.
Windows NT Workstation is built with a high-security architecture. This
architecture includes the ability to control access at the file and object level to
individual users. Windows NT domain integration and auditing are also
available within the security systems of the operating system.
Windows NT Workstation also allows centralized administration. User IDs,
passwords, group memberships, and security settings can be centralized in a
Windows NT domain. Additionally, system policies allow the behavior of the
operating system, such as access to system settings, to be controlled from a
central location.
Windows NT Workstation scales well to support high-performance hardware. It
supports greater memory and dual-processor configurations for many
calculation, processor, or graphics-intensive applications that are beyond the
capabilities of Windows 95/98.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows NT
Workstation operating
system.
Lead-in
Windows NT Workstation is
the desktop product for the
Windows NT family.
284 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies





Windows NT Server and Enterprise Edition
"
Includes Windows NT Workstation benefits
"
Tuned for high data throughput and network
performance
"
Application services for high-volume environments
"
Large install base and industry expertise
"
Application services
"
Enterprise Edition includes Windows NT Server benefits
"
Enterprise Edition is optimized for high-volume
application services
"
Enterprise Edition supports
clustering


Windows NT Server contains the same core functionality as Windows NT
Workstation. However, Windows NT Server contains additional benefits.
Windows NT Server is designed to support application services such as
database or messaging servers in a reliable manner.

Additional resources are often available to support and implement new
technologies and applications on the Windows NT platform.
The Option Pack for Windows NT Server provides several additional system
services such as Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft Transaction
Services (MTS), Message Queuing Services, and Indexing Services.
The most important advantage of Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition over
Windows NT Server is that it is optimized for high-volume application services.
Changes in the memory architecture allow for more scalability with
applications such as Microsoft SQL Server
™
.
Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition also supports system clustering.
Clustering allows another server to provide services if one server fails and helps
prevent unplanned outages.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows NT
Server operating system.
Lead-in
Windows NT Server
contains the same core
functionality as Windows NT
Workstation but contains
additional features that
make it suitable for a file or
application server.
Delivery Tip
Services such as IIS and
Transaction Services will be
described in detail in the

System Services section.
Delivery Tip
Clustering will be discussed
in detail in the System
Services section.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 285




Windows 2000 Professional
"
Evolution of Windows NT Workstation
"
Enhanced hardware support
"
Enhanced mobile user support
"
Supports Active Directory and updated security features
"
COM+


Windows 2000 Professional is the result of the evolution of Windows NT
Workstation. Window 2000 Professional contains all of the benefits of
Windows NT Workstation and provides additional benefits as well.
First, Windows 2000 Professional provides better hardware support than
Windows NT workstation. This enhanced support includes the ability to use
new hardware such as DVD drives and Plug and Play devices.
Additionally, Windows 2000 provides improved support for mobile users. New

features, such as enhanced PC-card and power-management support, allow
laptops to function well by using the advanced technologies of Windows NT.
Many of these technologies are especially useful to laptop users, such as the
enhanced security features.
Windows 2000 also supports Microsoft Active Directory
™
and the updated
security features that are detailed later in the module.
Finally, Windows 2000 supports COM+, the evolution of the Microsoft
Component Object Model (COM) and Microsoft Transaction Services (MTS).
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows
2000 Professional operating
system.
Lead-in
Windows 2000 Professional
is the desktop product for
the Windows 2000 family.
286 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Windows 2000 Server
"
Based upon Windows NT Server and Windows 2000
Professional
"
Active Directory

"
Additional security features
"
Application services


Windows 2000 Server is the result of the evolution of Windows NT Server. It
offers all of the features of Windows 2000 Professional but provides additional
benefits as well.
Active Directory support is one of the major new features of Windows 2000
Server. Active Directory provides a central location for storing directory
information. It is the core of the networking services on Windows 2000 and can
support millions of objects.
Windows 2000 Server provides many new security features, including support
for Kerberos-based and smart card authentication.
Windows 2000 Server also provides many application services that can be used
to extend existing or new applications, including Internet Information
Services 5.0.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows
2000 Server operating
system.
Lead-in
Windows 2000 Server
contains the same core
functionality as Windows
2000 Professional but
contains additional features
that make it suitable for a

file or application server.
Delivery Tip
Active Directory will be
covered in more detail in the
Data Storage section.
Delivery Tip
Security features will be
discussed in detail in the
Security section.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 287




Windows 2000 Advanced Server
"
Based upon Windows NT Enterprise and Windows 2000
Server
"
Enhanced scalability
"
Additional application services


Windows 2000 Advanced Server is the result of the evolution of Windows NT
Server Enterprise Edition. It is built upon Windows 2000 Server but contains
additional benefits and features.
First, Windows 2000 Advanced Server allows for enhanced scalability. As
many as eight processors are supported for multiprocessor configurations,
which allows for high-end servers for high-throughput applications.

Windows 2000 Advanced Server also includes Windows clustering capabilities
for high reliability on mission-critical applications, as well as terminal services.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows
2000 Advanced Server
operating system.
Lead-in
Windows 2000 Advanced
Server adds high-volume
and high-availability features
to Windows 2000 Server.
Delivery Tip
Clustering and Terminal
Services will be discussed in
detail in the next section.
288 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Guidelines
"
Deploy Windows NT or Windows 2000 for new hardware
"
Integrate Windows NT and Active Directory security
within your applications
"
Deploy Windows NT Enterprise Edition or Windows
2000 Advanced Server for high-volume, server-based

applications


Windows 2000 provides advanced features over the Windows 95 and Windows
98 platforms and provides a lower total cost of ownership. These features are
critical for the performance, reliability, and manageability of the workstations.
Unless there are legacy hardware or software restrictions that require Windows
95 or Windows 98, move forward with Windows 2000.
Active Directory serves as a central repository for directory and security
information. The project team should plan on supporting Active Directory
within new applications to take advantage of its storage capabilities and allow
the organization to move toward a single point of authentication and security.
Windows NT Enterprise Edition and Windows 2000 Advanced Server are well
suited for high-volume applications because of additional features such as
enhanced memory support and clustering.

For more information about Microsoft’s operating systems, visit the Web
site

Slide Objective
To present some guidelines
relating to operating
systems.
Lead-in
Here are some guidelines
for selecting and using
operating systems.
Note
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 289





Activity 9.1: Identifying Operating System Requirements


In this activity, you will identify the appropriate operating system for a
hypothetical situation and comment on operating system selections.
After completing this lab, you will be able to:
"
Identify the appropriate operating system for a particular set of requirements
and constraints.

Slide Objective
To introduce the activity.
290 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




!
!!
!

System Services
In this section
In this section
"
Microsoft Internet Information Services
"

Microsoft Transaction Services
"
Microsoft Message Queuing Services
"
Microsoft Enterprise Services
"
Windows Load Balancing Services
"
Cluster Service
"
Microsoft Terminal Services
"
Microsoft Exchange Server
"
Microsoft BizTalk Services
"
Guidelines


In this section, you will learn about the system services that are available. These
system services provide functionality that can greatly enhance an application’s
effectiveness without requiring much additional programming for the
application itself.
Slide Objective
To provide an overview of
the topics and activities in
this section.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 291





Microsoft Internet Information Services
"
Supports large concurrent user communities
"
Supports major Internet security protocols, including
digital certificates
"
Supports multiple Web scripting languages
"
Can run Web applications in a separate memory space


Internet Information Services is available with Windows NT Server and
Windows 2000 Server. IT provides Web services, File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
services, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) services, digital
certificate services, and transaction services suitable for a small workgroup
intranet or for a large Internet presence. IIS also functions as a Windows NT
service and can support a large number of concurrent Web users. The primary
limiting factors for concurrent use are the amount of RAM, the number of
processors, and how the application uses sessions, COM objects, and data
access objects.
IIS supports all the major Internet security protocols. These protocols include
the widely client-supported basic authentication, secure sockets layer (SSL)
over HTTP (also referred to as Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS),
and new technologies such as X.509-based digital certificates. Web services can
also be integrated with the Certificate Services to provide an organization with
simple and complete control over issuing and maintaining digital certificates.
Development tools, such as Microsoft Visual InterDev

®
, can be used to create
active applications for Web clients. These applications can be as simple as a
registration page for information or as complex as an Internet store. Natively,
the Web service’s Active Server Pages support Microsoft Visual Basic
®

Scripting Edition and Microsoft Jscript
®
languages for server-based scripting.
Additional, third-party support for PERL scripting can also be added. These
Web-based, scripted pages are converted to HTML and DHTML and processed
by Web clients’ browsers.
One reliability advantage of ISS is its ability to run separate applications in
separate memory spaces. Because IIS runs within MTS, IIS applications can be
maintained in separate memory spaces. As a result, a failed Web application
does not affect other Web applications.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Internet
Information Services.
Lead-in
Internet Information
Services is a high-volume
Web server that is included
with Windows NT Server
and Windows 2000 Server.
292 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies





Microsoft Transaction Services
"
Provides integrated transaction support for components
accessing multiple data stores
"
Provides a simple, role-based security abstraction
model


At the most basic level, transactions ensure that data is protected in your
databases. A transaction monitor watches over what an application does and
only updates records in a database if all of the changes that the application
wanted to make across all databases are successful. Otherwise, no records are
changed in any of the databases. Additionally, MTS allocates connections to
database resources from a pool so that components require connections only
when they are active. As a result, the total number of database connections
required to support clients is lowered, improving database performance.
MTS provides a role-based security mechanism that is integrated with the
Windows NT security environment. Roles enable developers to design security
protections for their components without knowing how the components will be
deployed. Administrators map roles to users when they install components into
MTS. Roles also allow access to databases to be controlled through secondary
user accounts. This database security abstraction means that user security that is
not implemented in the database as database connections can be pooled for
better performance.
MTS provides automatic transaction management services for components.
Developers or administrators can use simple property page interfaces to specify
the level of transaction protection that is required by a specific component. At

run time, MTS performs all required transaction management (such as two-
phase commit protocols) automatically. This dramatically simplifies
development and facilitates component reuse.
MTS creates instances of components on the server when they are requested
and reclaims memory resources when the component finishes executing. As
requests are received from clients, MTS automatically assigns threads to
components from a pre-allocated pool. When a component finishes executing,
MTS reclaims the thread. This reduces the overhead of thread creation or
deletion for better performance.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of Transaction
Services.
Lead-in
Transaction Services
provides transaction support
for application components.
Delivery Tip
Remind students that
Transaction Services
becomes part of COM+ in
Windows 2000.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 293




Microsoft Message Queuing Services
Real-time Application MQSeries
Message-based receivers

IBM MQSeries
"
Simplifies asynchronous application development
"
Integrates with industry queuing services
"
Optional guaranteed message delivery


Microsoft Message Queuing Services (MSMQ) simplifies asynchronous
application development. As a result, the application workflow must be able to
handle tasks of an indeterminate length. MSMQ provides asynchronous
message-queuing communication that is especially useful when tasks can take
minutes, days, or weeks to complete.
The information placed into an MSMQ message can have any kind of format. A
request for inventory replenishment might be formatted as an EDI 850
purchase-order document, rendered as an Extended Markup Language (XML)
stream, or structured as a set of fixed-length records. All that matters is that the
supply-chain applications agree on the format of exchanged data.
Another important aspect of MSMQ is that you can use it to guarantee delivery
of messages. For example, product orders can be placed in messages that are
routed from application to application. When orders are sent between
applications, MSMQ uses a communication protocol that guarantees delivery.
Queues also act as buffers. When orders are submitted faster than applications
can process requests, the orders simply accumulate in the queue to await
processing when the application is ready. As a result, no orders are lost because
of unpredictable volumes.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of Message

Queuing Services.
Lead-in
MSMQ simplifies
asynchronous application
development.
294 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Microsoft Enterprise Services

LAN-based applications SNA Server
Mainframe
Mainframe
Mainframe
Data
Data
Applications
Applications
AS/400
AS/400
AS/400
Data
Data
Applications
Applications
"
Provides communications between LAN-based systems
and host-based systems

"
Integrates Windows security and host-based security
"
Enables data access to a variety of host-based systems
"
Enables COM integration with host-based applications


Systems Network Architecture (SNA) Server provides services that help to
integrate LAN-based networks of workstations and servers with mainframe-
based systems. This integration includes the ability to gateway communications
between the two types of systems.
SNA Server can also be used to integrate Windows and host-based security.
This feature greatly assists organizations that wish to have a single, integrated
security model with a single ID and password or all users. It can also be used in
developing applications to provide consistent security across LAN and
mainframe platforms.
One of the most important benefits of SNA Server is that it facilitates accessing
data on a variety of host-based systems. Many organizations store critical data
on large, mainframe systems. However, many new applications are not
mainframe based. Instead, they may be Windows or Web applications. SNA
Server provides access to mainframe data for those new applications.
Finally, SNA Server provides the COM Transaction Interface (COMTI).
COMTI allows software developers to create COM objects that wrap the
transactional services provided by host transaction systems like a complex
instruction set computer (CICS) or Internet Mail Service (IMS). By using this
technology, PC applications can seamlessly execute mainframe transactions by
using familiar COM method calls. This eases the development of applications
that require integration with host-based transactional systems.
Slide Objective

To explain the beneficial
features of Microsoft
Enterprise Services.
Lead-in
Microsoft Enterprise
Services was once known
as SNA Server.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 295




Windows Load Balancing Services
Microsoft.com
10.1.1.3
W
L
B
S
Server Name
Web1.Microsoft.com
Server TCP/IP
address
10.1.1.1
Additional servers as
needed
Server Name
Web2.Microsoft.com
Server TCP/IP
address

10.1.1.2
Where is
Microsoft.com?
Where is
Microsoft.com? 10.1.1.3
10.1.1.3
1
0
.
1
.
1
.
3
1
0
.
1
.
1
.
3
W
e
b

Pa
g
e
s

W
e
b

P
a
g
e
s
DNS Server
Client Browser
Client Browser
Application TCP/IP address
10.1.1.3


Windows Load Balancing Services (WLBS) provides automated load balancing
and fault tolerance to Windows NT- and Windows 2000-based servers. Load
balancing and fault tolerance are provided by adding a layer that encompasses
two or more servers. For example, several Web servers could use WLBS to
function like one large Web server while balancing the load of Web
connections. Additionally, if one server fails, other servers fill in and respond to
client requests.
WLBS also allows for the rapid addition of Web services without redesigning
applications. If an additional Web server is needed to satisfy demand, it can
easily be added.
WLBS is also tightly integrated with IIS for large, Web-based, concurrent-use
support. This feature can be important for high-volume Web sites that may
receive hundreds of thousands of hits a day.
Another important feature of WLBS is that it maintains a session state for the

user. For example, if a Web application uses data about the user (such as
favorite color) to send customized content, then this session information must
remain available to the application.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of the Windows
Load Balancing Services.
Lead-in
Windows Load Balancing
Services provide for
automated load balancing
and fault tolerance.
296 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Cluster Service
SQL
Server
A
Windows NT Cluster Service - Best Coverage
Raid 5
Device
D: D:
NT
Cluster
SQL
Server
B

Shared
Device


Microsoft Cluster Service provides fault tolerance for computer processing
hardware. Clustering allows an administrator to configure two servers that share
a disk array. This disk array contains the data needed by a specific application
such as Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft SQL Server. In the event of a failure
on one of the servers, the other server will take over its duties and access the
data on the retrieval and information database (RAID) array.
Clustering works best with applications that are designed to operate in a
clustered environment.
Use Cluster Service with hardware-based, fault-tolerant systems. In reality, a
RAID array is not required for the shared disk space. However, because there is
only one set of shared disks, it is important to ensure that the disks are protected
by a fault-tolerant system, just as the servers are protected by the clustering
software.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of Cluster Service.
Lead-in
Cluster Service provides
fault tolerance in the event
of hardware failures.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 297




Microsoft Terminal Services

"
Provides Windows NT-based terminal emulation
"
Provides strong remote access support
"
Eases application deployment
"
Provides good access to seldom-used applications


Microsoft Terminal Services provide users with the ability to run Windows
applications, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, on a remote server.
The user sees and can actively run an application from the user’s workstation
while the application is actually running on the server.
This type of emulation is well suited to remote access support. Remote users
that may not have the ability to run a specific application because of operating
system support or hardware limitations can access the application on the server
through Terminal Services.
Terminal Services can also ease application deployment. Deploying the
application involves installing it on the server and making it available to remote
users, which is must easier than installing the application on each workstation.
Finally, Terminal Services can be a good solution for seldom-used applications.
If installed on the Terminal Services, the application will be available when
needed, but will not take up system resources on remote workstations.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of Terminal
Services.
Lead-in
Microsoft Terminal Services

allow users to run
applications on a remote
server.
298 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




Microsoft Exchange Server
"
Provides easy routing capabilities for applications
"
Provides simple delivery mechanism for information
"
Provides strong Web-based application integration


Microsoft Exchange provides a rich environment for developing routing and
collaboration applications. The integration of Exchange with Microsoft's
development products allows developers to produce routing- and messaging-
based applications that use Exchange as the central routing engine. This routing
engine can be used to move information through the company hierarchy and
make sure that a specific message or document travels a specific path. The
custom development and forms capabilities in Microsoft Outlook
®
make
developing applications that integrate with Exchange efficient and robust.
Exchange provides a 32-bit messaging engine that provides a high-
performance, robust architecture for sending and receiving most types of
information. Exchange provides a private “information store” that allows users

to track their own calendar, contacts, messaging, tasks, and memo pad data, as
well as integrate with other users’ data. Exchange also provides a public
repository for data, known as public folders, that allows for custom application
development, threaded discussions, routing, and knowledge-based types of
applications.
Exchange provides strong support for all Internet protocols, including SMTP,
POP3, IMAP4, LDAP, and HTTP. Support for these protocols ensures that
most types of messaging systems will have the capability to communicate with
Exchange in some fashion. Exchange supports Web-enabled applications in that
almost any Web site and application can use Exchange’s capabilities through
standard protocols. Exchange supports Web-based users with a component
known as Outlook Web Access. This component allows users to retrieve their
mail by using almost any Web browser. Exchange also supports LAN-based
rich-clients through the Outlook client software.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of Microsoft
Exchange Server.
Lead-in
Microsoft Exchange Server
is Microsoft’s premier client-
server messaging system.
Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 299




Microsoft BizTalk Services
www.companyname.com
SAP

Other Systems
XML
BizTalk
Application Components
XML
"
Provides information gateway services
"
Provides XML application capabilities
"
Provides information transformation beyond
"glue" and "adapter" approaches


The BizTalk Framework directly addresses the cost and complexity of problems
associated with the glue approach to integration by providing a foundation for
application integration that requires little to no glue. The BizTalk Framework is
based on open XML standards and can be applied to applications that run on
any platform. The BizTalk Framework consists of a technical specification that
defines a way to use XML consistently, a code set that defines a small number
of mandatory and optional XML tags, and the www.biztalk.org Web portal.
XML is an ideal technology to use as a cross-platform, data-interchange
mechanism. XML is ideal for two reasons. First, there is broad agreement that
XML is a standard. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) defines XML is
an open standard for describing data on any platform. The second reason that
XML is ideal is that it is a data description technology that aligns well with
exchanging data between business processes and applications without regard to
source or destination platform issues. The flexible nature of XML reduces the
need for applications to move information in a set order or format. The special
XML tags, or codes, defined by the BizTalk Framework address issues that are

common to all integration solutions. The BizTalk Framework was designed to
allow developers to eliminate three elements found in all glue implementations:
transport selection, calling convention, and data format.
The code is involved in satisfying application programming interface (API)
parameter requirements, including function or method location, ordering
parameters, coding around return conventions, and dealing with whether a
particular call results in an immediate, deferred, or null response from the called
application. XML solves the parameter ordering problems and BizTalk’s
message-driven programming model solves the remainder.
Slide Objective
To explain the beneficial
features of Microsoft BizTalk
Services.
Lead-in
Microsoft BizTalk services
provides information
gateway services to
applications.
300 Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies




The nature of XML and the existence of XML Style Sheets (XSL) simplify the
programming tasks associated with data transformation so that managing
transformations within an adapter or glue layer is unnecessary. With XSL,
vendors can publish their XML data schemas that describe the information
created or consumed as a result of business events. Through this publication
mechanism, customers and software developers can access information and
XSL maps that have been published to assist with transformation.

Module 9: Designing Solutions with Microsoft Technologies 301




Guidelines
"
Be able to quickly scale applications, and design for
MTS and MSMQ during the design process
"
Expect WLBS to provide scalability for Web-based client
interaction
"
Use Terminal Services for nonWeb-based applications
across slow network connections


The project team should be aware of the capabilities of MTS and MSMQ
during the design process. Applications should be able to take advantage of
these services, and forethought during the design process can make
implementation of the solution considerably simpler.
WLBS should be considered for small- and medium-sized Web sites, as well as
for large ones. In addition to providing fault tolerance and load balancing, it
also simplifies routine tasks such as maintenance, updates, or upgrades.
Terminal Services can be useful in all types of environments. In particular,
consider its usefulness when dealing with remote users across slow links or
when providing applications to users that are not within the control of the
organization and who may have varying desktop configurations.
Slide Objective
To present some guidelines

relating to system services.
Lead-in
Consider the following
guidelines in selecting and
using system services.