The following computers are required to run this system:
- Form design system – A typical
workstation computer that is used to create the blank direct debit application
forms.
- Application development system –
A typical workstation computer that is used to create the forms application
portlet.
- Forms repository – A database that
stores the blank forms, submitted forms, and the data extracted from the
submitted forms.
- Application server – The application
server hosts the forms application. The forms application consists of WebSphere®
Portal, the Webform Server portlet, and the Lotus® Forms API.
A single server can be used, but for high availability, a hot, running
backup should be in operation in case the primary server becomes unavailable.
- Translator servers – Two clustered
servers host the Translator component of Webform Server, which converts
the XFDL forms to JavaScript™ and HTML. Using two servers (horizontal
scaling) provides high performance and high availability. Furthermore,
each server hosts two instances of the Translator (vertical scaling).
- Log Server, Access Control Database,
Shared File Cache – These Webform Server components are hosted on
a dedicated server.
- Deployment Manager system – WebSphere
Deployment Manager is used to set up the Translator cluster. This allows
system administrators to easily add new servers if the demand for the application
increases.
- Load balancers – The load balancers
distribute work between the members of the Translator cluster and detect
if a Translator server becomes unavailable. A single server can perform
load balancing, but for high availability, a hot, running backup should
be in operation in case the primary server becomes unavailable.
Note:
If you are using a hardware load balancer, you may also need to deploy
a reverse proxy.
- HTTP server – The HTTP Server handles
user sessions and provides security to the overall system. A single server
can be used, but for high availability, a hot, running backup should be
in operation in case the primary server becomes unavailable.
- Firewalls – Standard corporate
firewalls provide security to the overall system.
Alternate architectures
Other architectures are possible. For example,
the forms application could transfer submitted forms and data to a backend
application based on WebSphere Process Server instead of passing them to
the forms repository.
Parent topic: Direct
debit application forms on the Internet
Next topic: 2.0
Systems
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