IT INFRASTRUCTURE

NEED TO ASSESS ERPs IMPACT ON COMPANYS IT INFRASTRUCTURE

If company identifies the deficiency in IT infrastructure later, fixing the deficiency causes delays in roll out and running up costs. If they are not corrected, ERP will not deliver intended advantages. To avoid, IT infrastructure strategy to be envisioned, planned and put in place before commencing ERP implementation.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
IT INFRASTRUCTURE OBJECTIVES : Building organization wide structured integrated IS / IT Select scalable Hardware & network handling growth Existing & proposed IT protected from technical obsolescence ensuring they are of latest technology and in most cases COTS applications Ensuring cost effective solutions and ROI. Technically and commercial feasible Hardware and network throughput performance not compromised and meets the requirements.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE Architecture of the client-server system built on n-tier architecture. Most of the applications recommend 3 tier where there is server/middleware between the client and the server. ERP evolved from mainframe archi to client server type and moving towards distributed component archi. Client server archi is an organization of computer application on a network in which one computer (client) is requesting a process or data from another (server)
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE Server Database resides + business logic Client - User interface resides + business logic Factors reliability and speed of the network, degree of security and cost. Two tier user interface + ERP business logic of the application software is in client computer Three tier user interface in client computer, ERP business logic stored in application server and data warehouse software in server

6/24/2012

RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE WEB ENABLED COMPUTING ARCHITECTURE Most of the ERPs developed on CS archi and now translating into web-based computing. Application software resides in on a network server and the client computer only needs a standard browser. Browser is a thin client unlike the fat client in CS provides a window to the server based applications. To modify/ upgrade, need to make changes only to the server based applications not on 1000s of client PCs. Benefits include reduced cost and administrative burden, allow larger no. of clients served simultaneously.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE DISTRIBUTED COMPONENT ARCHITECTURE Latest technology and most significant shift in corporate computing environment. Real world applications of componentization which can be defined as a language and a neutral independently implemented package of software services. These software services delivered in an encapsulated and replaceable container, accessed via one or more published interfaces
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
DISTRIBUTED COMPONENET ARCHITECTURE Presently only IFS /Oracle is based on component technology and other vendors may be required to convert into this architecture. Advantage is that this could standardize the service requirements for any software application thereby reducing the cost drastically. Moving from monolithic mainframe system to componentized packaged applications large scale suites that combine component based software with highly integrated functionality.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
HARDWARE ERP add considerable demand for desktops & servers. New database and application servers are to be procured. Need to look at Hardware configuration and redundancy Configuration and size determined by volume of data transactions and the architecture and also on choice of hardware platform offered by the ERP vendors. Three tier architecture with centralized database residing in database server and the ERP residing in application server is good enough.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
HARDWARE CPU Two choices Reduced instruction-set computing (RISC) and Complex instruction-set computing(CISC). RISC Faster, efficient, handles peak demands, Larger capacity and best suited for UNIX OS. It is proprietary hardware and more expensive. CISC Available in open market with range of options, significantly cheaper, support both UNIX and Windows OS. But lower peak performance compared to RISC.

6/24/2012

RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
HARDWARE RAM- Main memory - the size governed by ERP application software, RDBMS and OS, no. of concurrent users etc. Hard Disc Space requirement determined by application software, space for application module, OS, Database, Data retention period, temp files, logs etc. Hardware redundancy in the event of failure of the main servers, the secondary backup servers installed at a separate location should keep the applications running. Second power supply to be available (UPS)
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SOFTWARE System software OS which acts as an interface between the hardware, the application running on it and the user. Major business applications run on Unix while small to medium applications are deployed on Windows server. Unix is better suited for ERP application due to its very high scalability, reliability, do not crash, superior performance and windows can be used. Application Software Recommended that COTS packages are used. - ERP package, Intranet/workflow and office automation software.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
DATABASE Proper selection of DB is very important. Some RDMBS that may be considered are the Oracle which is the leading RDBMS with rich features and tools. It has the widest use in ERP applications. Others like DB2, Microsoft SQL server are the options for low end ERP applications. Oracle is the ideal choice for ERP packages and it has the capability of handling large volumes of data. There is no limit on the max. no. of DB connections per server. Also supports majority of OSs.

6/24/2012

RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
NETWORK Integrated communication network to ensure concurrent processing with Real time updation and action, the networking combination of LAN and WAN for inside and outside the organization network connectivity. Data centre houses networking amongst all server computers and communication devices. There would be two servers in the data centre one is the application server and the other database server which lies in the heart of ERP system. Clients are connected to the network (LAN / WAN)
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
NETWORK Proper capacity planning and sizing of the data centre critical to ensure that the network do not become a bottleneck. Network Connectivity In WAN, two choices are the satellite link (VSAT) and another Terrestrial leased lines (ISDN, Dial-up etc) though in India leased line links are not yet completely reliable. Network design should address the bandwidth requirement, scalability, reliability, performance, security.
6/24/2012 RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010

IT INFRASTRUCTURE
NETWORK Network management involve fault/problem management, change management, security and performance management.

IT system management policy addresses the requirement of data security policy, data back up and storage management, migration strategy and the training management.

6/24/2012

RADM-ERP-CHRIST UNIVERSITY 2010