PeopleSoft Architecture

The PeopleSoft Internet Architecture (PIA) is a server-centric component architecture that enables secure end user access to PeopleSoft applications. Its components include the following:

• Internet Access Device
• Web Server
• Application Server
• Database Server

Each component fulfills a unique niche within the system, all of which are described in the PeopleSoft Internet Architecture Components lesson of this course.

With PIA there is no "traditional" client. Workstations simply need to have a supported browser installed. No other applets or connectivity software is needed on the workstation that runs the browser because all processing occurs at the server level. Dynamic HTML, rendered by the Application Server, is passed to the Web Server and sent on to a supported browser interface.

 PeopleSoft Integration Technologies:

•Application Messaging - System-to-system communication.
•Component Interfaces - Transactions from external systems to PeopleSoft. •Application Engine - Used in batch application processing.
•File Layouts - Used for integration with legacy systems.

 
PIA supports pure internet access for all PeopleSoft applications. It enables you to take advantage of all of the PeopleSoft intranet and internet solutions, as  well as the PeopleSoft Integration Technologies, such as Application Messaging.

 These technologies streamline integration of PeopleSoft applications with other PeopleSoft applications, custom internal systems, eMerchants, and customer trading partner systems. By supporting the open flow of information between systems, the PeopleSoft Integration Technologies provide true internet- based system integration.

 The PeopleSoft Internet Architecture delivers intuitive, high-performance, HTML-based thin client applications that run on any machine with internet access. PIA deploys all transactions through a web browser.

 
Benefits of Browser-Based Deployment

•Minimizes the Training Effort
•Reduces Application Deployment Costs
•Lowers Client Hardware Requirements
•Allows Extensive Portability

 There are two basic access methods with the PeopleSoft Internet Architecture:

(1) Directly, through a delivered homepage dedicated only to PeopleSoft applications, or
(2) Through a portal that may contain non-PeopleSoft content references. Both of these deployment options are further discussed in the PeopleSoft Development and Deployment lesson of this course. Both options provide the benefits listed above of browser-based deployment.

 Minimizes the Training Effort:

• Simple access
• Intuitive web look and feel

 Less training is needed because most people with access to computers are very familiar with the look and feel of web pages, and know how to navigate within web browsers like Yahoo! and Amazon.com. End users just click a hyperlink to enter the PeopleSoft applications.

Reduces Application Deployment Costs:

• HTML-based for low bandwidth access
• HTML and JavaScript deployed to the browser
• No client installations required

Browser-based applications are easily deployed to end users. By placing a hyperlink in an email or on a corporate website, users can access the applications just like they access any other website. The cost of deploying browser-based applications is close to zero.

Lowers Client Hardware Requirements:

• Robust, scalable server-centric architecture
• Supports thousands of concurrent users

Because the browser-based applications put very small demands on the client machine, the end user does not need a high-end, expensive computer to use PeopleSoft applications. This means lower costs to customers, as they will not need to upgrade their client machines in order to use the latest PeopleSoft release.

 Allows Extensive Portability:

• Web browser independence
• Client operation system independence

HTML browser-based applications are very portable across client operating systems. As long as the end user has a currently supported browser that is JavaScript 1.1 compliant, access to PeopleSoft applications can be through a Windows, Mac, Linux, or Unix client machine. From an end user's perspective, browser-based application deployment of PeopleSoft applications is cost-effective and easy to use.

Because PIA is completely server-based, client machines to this architecture can be nearly any kind of internet-enabled device, including:

• Web browser running on a PC or Macintosh
• Wireless device or cell phone
• External or third-party system

These devices use the standard internet technologies: HTTP, HTML, WML, and XML.

A web browser running on a workstation (client) using the HTTP protocol is the most common internet access. The browser does not download any applets nor does it require any plug-ins. Rather, a servlet installed on the Web Server facilitates all browser connections to the Application Server through JOLT.

When the browser sends a request to the Web Server, it is forwarded to the Application Server. The Application Server sends only the following back to the browser:

• HTML
• JavaScript
• Cookies

The client workstation is free of any processing responsibility because there are no PeopleSoft executables on the client. This is why PeopleSoft Internet Architecture is termed an "architecture without a client."

With PeopleSoft Internet Architecture, only a single sign-in is needed between PeopleSoft databases. This is possible by leveraging Web Browser cookies that store a unique access token for users when they are initially authenticated. The token in the browser cookie is used to re-authenticate users when they connect to other PeopleSoft systems. This way, a user does not have to go through the sign-in process again. The browser cookie is stored in memory and never written to disk. It is encrypted by the Web Server and check-summed to prevent snooping and tampering.

As you can see, there is no "traditional" client involved in PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. The system sends pure HTML to a supported browser interface, while all processing occurs at the server level.

The Web Server must be Java-enabled so that it can run the PeopleSoft-delivered Java Servlets that are installed as part of PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. One of these is the Portal Servlet, which relays all inbound and outbound transaction requests for the browser.

Using JOLT, the Web Server communicates browser requests to the Application Server. The pure HTML that the Application Server generates is formatted and presented in the browser by the Portal Servlet.

Together the Web Server and the Application Server make up the middle-tier of PIA; however, the Application Server does most of the work.

The Application Server is the core of PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. It handles messages from the Web Server through JOLT and executes all PeopleSoft business logic. In addition, it maintains the SQL connection to the Database Server for both browser requests and for the PeopleSoft development environment. PeopleSoft uses TUXEDO to manage database transactions.

At execution time, the Application Server fetches the most recent application definitions from the Metadata Repository of the Database Server. The Application Server caches the definitions in memory and executes the business rules, based on the definitions. Definitions such as pages, are created using the Application Designer tool in the PeopleSoft 8 development environment.

The Application Server consists of numerous PeopleSoft services and server processes that handle transaction requests. One of these server processes, PSAPPSRV, performs all application processing for a PeopleSoft internet session and generates the HTML to be displayed in the browser. For example, it is the PSAPPSRV process of the Application Server that builds and loads the pages which are then transmitted to the browser, as requested, through the Web Server.

As you can see, the Application Server is truly the heart of PeopleSoft Internet Architecture.

Just as in the PeopleSoft three-tier architecture, with the PeopleSoft 8 Internet Architecture, information is stored on the Database Server in three types of tables: System Catalog Tables, PeopleTools Tables, and PeopleSoft Application Data Tables. Each table type contains specific information that is related to running PeopleSoft applications.

The PeopleSoft database is the repository for all information that is managed by PeopleSoft applications. Not only is application data stored in the database, but the PeopleSoft metadata is also maintained in the database. Metadata is what drives PeopleSoft Internet Architecture. Because PeopleSoft architectures have always been metadata-driven, PeopleSoft has been able to make the leap from client/server to internet-based applications without having to completely rewrite existing applications.

Several internet-related definitions were enhanced in PeopleTools 8.4 to enable full internet application development. These are the HTML Catalog, images, and style sheets. Just like fields, records, pages, menus, and other definitions, these definitions are stored in the PeopleTools Tables of the Database Server, and are fully upgradeable.

Multiple Application Servers can be connected to a single Database Server, which simultaneously handles the Application Server connections and development environment connections.

PeopleSoft 8 Development Environment Features

•Uses PeopleTools (Application Designer)
•Builds on core competencies
•Provides full upgrade support
•Leverages the power and flexibility of:
- PeopleCode
- Workflow
- Application Messaging
- Application Engine
- Component Interfaces

•Expands on application developers' existing development skills
•Leverages the metadata repository

One of the best features of the PeopleSoft 8 Internet Architecture is that it continues to use Application Designer to develop and upgrade applications. Developers can quickly build, deploy, and support internet applications with the look and feel of easy-to-use websites, with tools that are already familiar to them.

With PeopleTools 8.4, the development environment is Windows-based. Therefore, although the majority of end users connect to PeopleSoft 8 by using their browser, application developers and system administrators needing access to PeopleTools will continue to use Windows workstations. When working in the PeopleSoft 8 development environment, connections to the database can be made directly, or indirectly through the Application Server.

PeopleSoft Development Functions

•Application Development. The PeopleTools 8 development environment continues to use the Application Designer tool.
•Query Design. Queries are designed in the PeopleTools 8 development environment, while end users execute queries through browser-based applications.
•Crystal Report Design. Some aspects of Crystal must be handled through Windows.
•Tree Design. Tree design and modification are done through the Windows-based Tree Manager, while end users are able to view Tree definitions from a web browser.
•nVision Report Design. With PeopleTools 8.4, the reporting tools listed above can also be used for development via the web. This list specifies objects that can be viewed or executed from a web browser.

To enable full internet application development, PeopleSoft 8 includes three definitions that are maintained in Application Designer. These definitions are related to web page design. These include: HTML stored in the PeopleSoft HTML Catalog, images, and style sheets.

The HTML Catalog gives you flexibility in designing internet applications. HTML definitions are created and modified using the Application Designer tool, then stored in the HTML Catalog in the database. There are two ways in which HTML is placed on a web page. HTML definitions may be called from the HTML Catalog to dynamically assemble a page, or HTML areas may be placed on a page along with traditional PeopleSoft page controls such as radio buttons and drop-down lists.

Images are important to all internet applications. They are used to improve the look and usability experience for the end user in virtually every web page on the internet. Because images are so important to internet applications, PeopleSoft 8 provides the ability to store them in the PeopleSoft database. Images are used in application designs just like records, fields, pages, and other PeopleSoft definitions. And, just like those definitions, images can be upgraded.

Images are primarily used for aesthetic purposes; however, they can also demonstrate a simple function, such as an arrow on a push button, or when referenced on a hyperlink. Two of the most commonly used images, image definitions and image fields can be referenced on a PeopleSoft page. Image definitions (JPG, GIF, and others) are stored as definitions in the PeopleTools Tables on the database and can be upgraded. Image Fields are stored in record fields and are only displayed at run time through PeopleSoft Internet Architecture.

A default cascading style sheet is delivered with every PeopleSoft 8 application. Style sheets are used to build web pages. They offer a consistent set of GUI attributes that can be applied across multiple application pages. Designing web pages using style sheets provides a consistent look and feel to any application accessed by users through internet browsers. The PeopleSoft-delivered style sheet may be copied then customized, or completely new style sheets can be developed. All of these are stored as definitions in the PeopleTools Tables of the database.

These are just a few of the design features of the PIA development environment. In addition to applying these definitions to application pages, many existing definitions - such as push buttons - can be converted for web page functionality by using the Application Designer tool.

PIA provides end users with direct access to PeopleSoft applications through a homepage like the one above. Each PeopleSoft 8 product is delivered with a homepage that provides basic portal-driven navigation and search key capability. Users can search, use hyperlinks, use favorites, and navigate to numerous PeopleSoft applications with a single sign-in.

PeopleSoft applications can also be deployed using portal technology. All PeopleSoft 8 applications are delivered portal-enabled and can run through a browser inside any portal. However, PeopleSoft 8 offers four customizable portal solutions. The Enterprise Portal platform sits on top of PIA and provides built-in security, a personalized homepage, and pagelets for accessing information such as company news and events. Resources from across the enterprise can be integrated into the portal.

PeopleSoft applications are only part of the Enterprise Portal. Enterprise Portals enable end users to handle information coming from various resources throughout the extended enterprise. In addition to PeopleSoft, users can access email, business applications, stock quotes, and other internet content all woven together to provide a seamless integration point.

The Enterprise Portal platform provides you with the infrastructure required to create, maintain, and upgrade your own enterprise portal. The Enterprise Portal dramatically expands on the basic portal functionality that is part of the PeopleTools technology. In addition to the Enterprise Portal, five prebuilt portal solutions are available. Each of these portal solutions snap into the Enterprise Portal foundation and provide out-of-the-box integration with all PeopleSoft applications.

Each of the five prebuilt portal solutions was built to manage role-based access for a specific audience as listed below:

• Customer Solution: Customers and prospects
• Employee Solution: Contractors, temps, and employees
• Supplier Solution: Extended partnerships and supply chain
• Campus Solution: Students, faculty, staff, and alumni
• CFO Solution: Business and finance managers

 
PeopleSoft Portal Solutions:

•Employee Portal. A comprehensive solution that provides all needed enterprise content to employees, including prebuilt business process integration.
•Supplier Portal. Created to improve buy-side eCommerce and enable a company's suppliers to interoperate more effectively with the organization.
•Customer Portal. Created to help build stronger customer relationships and improve sell-side eCommerce performance.
•CFO Solution. Enables business and finance managers to predict, measure, and manage business more effectively. They can track key performance areas and stay informed of the progress towards achieving corporate goals.
•Campus Solution. An ad-free webtop where students can register for classes, faculty can post grades, staff can check to-do lists, and alumni can sign up for events. By combining PeopleSoft Enterprise Portal with the appropriate Portal Pack, a website can be created that delivers anytime, anywhere information tailored to the individual requirements of constituents.

The list above summarizes the purpose of each of the three prebuilt portal solutions.

This is an example of the Employee Portal product. Navigation pagelets provide users quick access to both PeopleSoft and non-PeopleSoft transactions. These pagelets are built using information architecture that provides navigation, search, and taxonomy features to organize and logically display information for easy retrieval. Navigation pagelets, such as the Quick Navigation pagelet above, dynamically build a menu for role- based access to PeopleSoft applications.

PeopleSoft Portal Benefits:

•PeopleSoft portals are a natural extension of eBusiness solutions for customers, employees, and suppliers.
•Prebuilt portal solutions are fully integrated with all PeopleSoft eBusiness applications.
•The PeopleSoft Enterprise Portal is a feature-rich portal that can be used with or without other PeopleSoft products.
•Prebuilt portal solutions dramatically lower customer implementation costs by providing out-of-the-box PeopleSoft integration.