Platform Components

This diagram shows the server processes that make up a typical platform:

File:Server processes.png

Application Server

The Application Server is a web app that runs in the Apache Tomcat container, so it can be deployed as a standalone web server. That configuration is useful for testing, experimentation, and other low-volume scenarios:

File:Platform as webserver.png

(Optional) Apache HttpD

Alternatively, the Apache httpd web server can be used to serve static content. In that case, the platform runs as an application server behind the Apache httpd web server. Those instances can be running on the same server, or on different servers, so either of these configurations is possible:

File:Platform with apache webserver.png

MySQL Database

MySQL is a relational database with capacities for redundancy, failover, backup, distributed access, and transactional integrity. That platform makes data look like Java objects to application developers. That makes applications easier to develop. But under the covers, the reliability and robustness of a mature relational database provides for data safety and rapid access.

Replicated Database

Database replication is a virtual necessity for any successful deployment. It safeguards data, and it allows for efficient backup and reporting from the replicated database, to minimize response time to users.

Memcached

The MEMory CACHE Daemon (memcached) is an optional, but highly recommended process that stores frequently-accessed data in memory, so it can be retrieved with maximum speed.