Xerox PeopleNet - Creating IT/HR Synergies

Developing Xerox PeopleNet Contd...

Server software also included OpenLink ODBC Request Broker, which communicated with the ODBC driver on the client. The clients and servers communicated over local and wide-area networks, using TCP/IP and Novell IPX/SPX. The client part of the software was under the Microsoft Windows operating system (version 3.1 on a 386 processor or higher, with 8 MB RAM and 15 MB of available space on the hard drive), written in Visual Basic 3.0 with a local Microsoft Access database (Refer Figure I).

The project followed a phased development approach of prototyping, testing, re-testing and then rolling out on a continual basis. Visual Basic was selected as the client development tool because of its ability to facilitate prototyping. The Microsoft Access engine acted as the invisible middleware¹³ component, which tracked configuration and routing information and stored cached data.

The ODBC Driver worked with a related component on the server to transmit and route requests and data between the client and server. The ODBC driver also provided other functionalities, including transmission-level encryption for data traveling over the network and a query and transport vehicle for automatically updating client systems.

FIGURE I
THE Xerox PeopleNet SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

Source: Microsoft User Story "Xerox PeopleNet," www.webfrontier.tridec.com.

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13] Middleware refers to software that connects two otherwise separate applications, for instance, linking a database system to a web server. This allows users to request data from the database using forms displayed on a Web browser, and it enables the Web server to return dynamic Web pages based on the user's requests and profile.

Case Details

Case Code : ITSY004
Themes: Internet companies
Case Length : 07 Pages
Period : 1990-2000
Organization : Xerox
Pub Date : 2001
Teaching Note : Available
Countries : Japan
Industry : Computers and Information Technology

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