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148 Moving Forward with the On Demand Real-time Enterprise

Figure 4-26 Control flow operators

Deployment

Deployment of SQW applications are executed based on the following steps:

1. Define required data sources and system resources in the WebSphere

Application Server environment.

2. Enter the location of the zip file that was created by the preparation step in the

Design Studio.

3. Link the data sources that the application needs to the data sources

previously created.

4. Link the system resources (if any) that the application needs to the system

resources previously created.

5. If your application contains variables that can be altered after the design and

deployment preparation phases, you need to enter variable values or accept

the current default values.

4.2 DB2 Alphablox

DB2 Alphablox and all Alphablox analytic-enabled solutions run as

J2EE-compliant applications in an application server, and they are accessed by

using a Web browser. Unlike traditional query and reporting tools that interact

with application servers, DB2 Alphablox leverages the application services,

portal services and integration broker services provided by the application

Chapter 4. IBM technologies supporting real-time 149

server. In addition, DB2 Alphablox leverages the common foundation for

developing, deploying and maintaining distributed applications.

DB2 Alphablox architecture

DB2 Alphablox is comprised of the following elements:

򐂰 Platform

򐂰 Analytic-enabled solutions

򐂰 Administration application

򐂰 Application server adapters

The platform, the core component of DB2 Alphablox, runs within the business tier

of the J2EE application server. While running as a J2EE application within the

host application server, it also provides the services of a fully functional analysis

server. For DB2 Alphablox analytic-enabled solutions to fully leverage the

analytic capabilities and services of DB2 Alphablox, the platform requires a

separate installation for components and adapters that are not traditionally part

of J2EE applications. These components are depicted in Figure 4-27.

Figure 4-27 DB2 Alphablox architecture

150 Moving Forward with the On Demand Real-time Enterprise

The adapters allow DB2 Alphablox to communicate with each supported

application server to perform administration functions. Many of these functions,

such as defining applications, are set up differently on each application server.

DB2 Alphablox analytic-enabled applications run as application server

applications within the Web tier. The applications, while interacting with DB2

Alphablox, are configured as separate and encapsulated J2EE applications.

Updates to DB2 Alphablox-enabled applications can be deployed, backed up,

upgraded and migrated independently of the DB2 Alphablox platform.

DB2 Alphablox also registers two J2EE applications within the Web tier of the

application server. They are the DB2 Alphablox server application and the DB2

Alphablox administration application. The application server manages DB2

Alphablox in the same way it manages any other Web application. For example,

it is auto-started by invoking a servlet. DB2 Alphablox is then suspended and

resumed by the application server as needed, based on requests received by the

application server and the management model.

DB2 Alphablox analytic components

DB2 Alphablox enables organizations to integrate analytics across functions and

lines of business, and deploy analytic solutions for improved decision making.

The technology enables organizations to optimize various aspects of their

business, including:

򐂰 Self-service reporting and analysis applications

򐂰 Operational analysis applications

򐂰 Financial reporting and analysis applications

򐂰 Planning applications

򐂰 Business performance and key performance indicators (KPI) for interactive

information dashboards

Data can be presented in several formats, including:

򐂰 Interactive grids, charts and reports

򐂰 Informational dashboards

򐂰 Planning and modeling applications

򐂰 Information portals

DB2 Alphablox can integrate data from all enterprise information resources,

including relational and multidimensional databases, transaction systems and

other outside content feeds. This ensures that users have immediate access to

all pertinent data, regardless of where or how it is stored. In addition, users can

utilize a write-back capability to facilitate real-time planning and modeling

applications.