A chat with buddy techno Kumar...  

               Me: hi buddy…Whats up??

               Techno Kumar: nothing …just as usual…u say

                Me : so how is your new venture going ?? Everything okay?

                Techno kumar : fine ..I am planning to install the ERP system in my company..but since I   have very little knowledge about it ..i had to outsource the entire implementation of it..

               Me: ahhh ..that`s great ..ERP will go a long way in ensuring flexibility to your company operations..

              Techno kumar: yeah I know …. but the thing is if only I had some knowledge about what it is ..then I would not have a problem…you know ..like for clarity and satisfaction..

               Me : okay ..i understand ..i think you MUST  have an idea about the basics of systems architecture ..that can throw some light on what work you are doing ..

               Techno kumar: is it ?? …but how ..

               Me : arre main hoon na….i can impart some knowledge on this systems architecture..but are you free now ??..because it may take some time..

                 Techno kumar: ..ohh ..not an issue ..i would learn it now itself..

               Me : okay ..so at the beginning u must understand that all the computer programs that are used are comprised of Data Structures and algorithms ..

              Techno kumar : hmmm..like?

                 Me : data structures actually show what is to be processed ..and algorithms tell how it is to be processed..

               Techno kumar : information systems refer to these as  data bases and applications ..respectively .. right ??

               Me : exactly ….now ..the basic thing I that data must be logically distinct from applications ..

         and there are many types of system architecture single, two tier, three tier and finally multi-tier.

Techno kumar : ohh..but I am getting confused what do you mean by tier ??

         Me : yeaah yeaaah ..coming ..coming ..have patience techno ..single tier is the basic laptop/ desktop or server model….do you know what is mean by a server ?

 Techno kumar: yes yes I have heard about it a lot of time..But don’t really have clarity ..

        Me : server is a computer / host to perform certain dedicated tasks or activities ..like data base server , business application server, sales server / finance server for companies ..etc ..

 Techno kumar : gotcha ..

     Me : So in the two tier companies we have the one data server –and the application server is placed in the involved network computers ..the benefits are high Graphical user interface as the server is not burdened with processing activities ..understood ??

Techno kumar : yahh getting it ..

  Me : But the thing is that wide bandwidth is required ..and maintenance is also required ..but in case of of three tier networks there is a business application server that takes of the application load off the network computers and improves the system by minimizing the data transfer over the networks ..

Techno kumar : so we have to only put some sort of a user interface in the computers ..to facilitate the process..

Me : exactly ..my super intelligent techno …no doubt u are a good entrepreneur ….but further the system can also be optimized by putting a separate web server along with the business application one that would only require a web browser to be installed in the network computers…

Techno kumar: ..hmm ..is it just like we have in the internet or other wide area networks..??

Me: yeaah …only that in the internet there are many number of such systems linked …and simply speaking in case of business applications the ERP is the system where the entire company data base is put in one server ..there is a business application server ..here the ERP ..the network companies only have the specific software in their systems to access through a connected WAN…

Techno kumar: hmmmm..understood …thanks Aniket ..it was really a great knowledge sharing session ..u deserve a treat..

Me : of course ..ek treat toh banta hi hain…so tomorrow we meet up at Arsalan ..seven pm..and dig ourselves in the biriyani ..

Techno kumar: bye ..see ya.