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Layman's view of IT System Architecture - With Aloo Chop Example

 IT System Architecture…  A word tough to interpret; but when you understand the basics, easy to visualize. It is nothing but “real life”, modeled through computer systems. We call it n-tier architecture (where n < N and n > =1), because the operations performed are delegated among n different systems or processes.

Let us take an example of a Restaurant and try to understand in layman’s point of view..

Two-tier Architecture:

You go to a small street shop (Consider in Technology Market, IIT Kharagpur) and see a person preparing Aloo Chops himself. If we summarize the whole process..

Step-1 (Client Requests)

You order few aloo Chop

Step-2 (Server Responds)

He serves

In client–server model communication happens over a computer network on separate hardware. A Client is a machine or software that requests for a service (You – Customer). A server machine is a host that is running one or more server programs which share their resources with clients (Shop Owner). A client does not share any of its resources, but requests a server's content or service function (Asks for Aloo Chop).

Disadvantages:

You could not see the following processes happening at the back.

1.    Stops his preparation work

2.    Listens to your request

3.    Brings the Aloo Chop from inside

4.    Collects money

5.    Goes back to work

This is what a problem with Two-tier architecture. Maintenance of server side is tougher.

Three-tier Architecture:

Consider the shop owner hires a cook.

Now the process goes like this..

Step-1 (Client)

You order few Aloo Chop

Step-2 (Controller)

Shop Owner Serves the Aloo Chop taking it from the prepared foods

Step-3 (Business Logic/ Data)

          Cook prepares the Aloo Chop and stores them.

If we summarize, three-tier architecture has the following tiers:

Presentation tier (You – the customer)

This is the topmost level of the application. It communicates with other tiers by outputting results to the browser/client tier and all other tiers in the network.

Application tier (The Shop Owner)

It controls an application’s functionality by performing detailed processing.

Data/Business tier (Cook preparing Aloo Chops)

Here information is stored and retrieved. This tier keeps data neutral and independent from application servers or business logic.

Multi-tier Distributed Architecture:

Multi-tier architecture refers to the architecture of an application that has at least 3 "logical" layers -- or parts -- that are separate. Each layer has specific function that it is responsible for. 

For the same example...Consider he opens a restaurant. Now the total process is divided into many tiers as given below

• Customer
• Waiter
• Cook
• Accountant
• Owner/ Manager

Here, the task is divided among different tiers with every tier doing some specialized work.

Advantages:

• Readable and reusable
• Robust because there is no single point of failure
• Allows developers to apply their specific skill to that part of the program that best suits their skill set

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