CS480 Computer Science Seminar Introduction to Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF)

Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) MSF: a flexible series of models that guides information systems professionals in planning an enterprise architecture that adapts to industry change, in building business-driven applications and in managing the computing environment. The guidelines specifically recommend how businesses should integrate people, processes, hardware, software, and communications technology into their organization.

Microsoft Solution Framework

MSF Models

MSF Models (continued)

Networking technology Network architecture –LANs –WANs –The Internet –Corporate Intranets Protocols –The OSI model –The TCP/IP protocol Client/Server model

The Microsoft Operating Systems and Applications The Windows –Windows CE –Windows 98 –Windows NT –Windows 2000 The Applications –Microsoft BackOffice –Microsoft Office –Microsoft Visual Studio

Windows 98 Architecture

Windows NT Architecture

Microsoft BackOffice Runs on NT servers for different types of business applications Packages –Internet information server (IIS): Web server –MS Exchange server: and groupware –MS SQL: client/server DBMS –MS Proxy server: secure way to bring Internet services to desktops in an enterprise –MS System management server (SMS): client/server system to administrators to centrally manage all computers in an enterprise

Microsoft BackOffice Packages (continued) –MS Systems Network Architecture Server (SNA): gateway to communicate with IBM mainframes –MS transaction server: to develop and deploy reliable distributed applications on a network –MS site server: manages a Web site environment –Ms message queue server (MSMQ): allows one to create applications that communicate asynchronously using messages

Microsoft Office Word Excel PowerPoint Access Outlook: personal information manager FrontPage: creating and managing Web sites Project: project management tool Publisher

Choosing the right application technology

Choosing the right application technology (continued)

Microsoft Visual Studio Used by programmers to build scalable and distributed applications Tools –Visual Basis (VB) –Visual C++ –J++ –Visual FoxPro –Visual InterDev –Server development tools such Windows NT Option Kit

Choosing a development tool

Planning a project and analyzing business requirements Envisioning phase –Team roles –Return on investment –Risk assessment Planning phase –Team role –Use cases –Functional requirements –Project schedule

Designing information system logically Application modeling Logical design –Identify objects, services, attributes, and interfaces –Define business rules –Create user interface prototypes –Create logical data model –Implement the class diagram using MS Visual Modeler –Validate, test, and redesign the logical design

Designing an information system physically Physical design –Application modeling –Prototyping the user interface –Packaging components using MS Visual Modeler –Creating physical data model from the logical data model –Validating the design

Implementing data services with SQL Server Visual Basic visual database tools: help create and modify db schemas such as tables, view, stored procedures, and queries Query designer Database designer –Creating a table –Modifying a table –Deleting a column in a table or table in a db –Relating tables –Entering data into tables –Modifying and deleting dat –Views –Stored procedures

The query designer Query designer uses visual design techniques to create SQL statement to query and update databases

The database designer Database designer uses visual techniques to –Create a table –Modify a table –Delete a column in a table or table in a db –Relate tables –Enter data into tables –Modify and deleting data –Create views –Store procedures (with MS Transact-SQL)

Creating components from business services and data services using VB6.0 Component: a self-contained precompiled software unit (code) that can be reused in one or more applications. It provides specific functionality to an application and contains one or more objects.

Role of middleware in a network Components created using ActiveX technology fall into a broad category of software called middleware. Middleware ties client and server together and the only service it provides is delivering data between a client and a server. It hides the details and complexities of the operating system and the network software.

Middleware environment

Component Object Model (COM) COM is Microsoft’s standard that allows objects to communicate with each other. Objects can be created using VB, Visual J++. And Visual C++. COM only allows interaction of objects on a single machine.

Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) An enhancement of COM which allows objects located on a single machine or across machines on network can interact or communicate with each other.

DCOM object interaction

Using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) to communicate with the database