PeopleTools 8.53 – What is a PeopleSoft File Server, Database Server, Application Server, Batch Server and Web Server
A typical PeopleSoft installation consists of several logical components, which are known as PeopleSoft Client, PeopleSoft File Server, PeopleSoft Database Server, PeopleSoft Application Server, PeopleSoft Batch Server and PeopleSoft Web Server. Lets have a look and what all these stand for and how do they differentiate from each other.
What is PeopleSoft Client
PeopleSoft Client can be installed only on Microsoft Windows machines. The PeopleSoft Client is the environmental repository for the PeopleSoft PeopleTools Development environment. The client executables include PeopleSoft Application Designer, PeopleSoft Configuration Manager, PeopleSoft Change Assistant, PeopleSoft Impact Analyzer, PeopleSoft Test Framework, PSEM Agent, PS/nVision and Client SQR.
PeopleSoft File Server
The PeopleSoft file server is a the environment or file repository for the PeopleTools Development Environment, which is needed for the Database Connection Wizard. The file server is also a data repository of files needed for upgrade. Example of some of the files, which are are present in a file server include files related to Change Assistant, including executables and scripts. When you apply patches and perform upgrades, the files from My Oracle Support are downloaded to your file server and then copied from to relevant servers. A file server is more than just a data repository for files needed for upgrades and patches – it also also acts as source repository for the COBOLs and SQRs you would need for a particular instance.
Any COBOL patches or customizations should be applied to the file server. From there the updated COBOL source code can be transferred to any relevant Application or Batch servers, keeping the COBOL source code in sync.
The File server is also by Developers to perform customizations to the application. The PeopleSoft Developers Tools are typically located on this machine. Setting up a file server applies to installations on both Unix and Windows. If you’re doing an installation for Unix machines, you will need a Microsoft Windows server as well. If you used PeopleSoft Server Transfer program in the past, it is no longer needed, because the PeopleSoft installer lets you install files directly on the designated server.
PeopleSoft File Server includes all PeopleSoft Client executables (such as PeopleSoft Application Designer and Configuration Manager), PS/nVision, Change Assistant files, and directories necessary to perform upgrade and Client SQR.
PeopleSoft Database Server
A PeopleSoft Database Server is a server that hosts your PeopleSoft databases and has the needful processing power, storage and networking resources to process database requests, data storage and transaction logs. These databases include PeopleSoft and system databases. Database size varies with the application you’ve installed. Examples of Database Servers include Oracle on Windows, Oracle on Linux, DB2 on z/OS etc.
PeopleSoft Application Server
The PeopleSoft Application Server is the core of PeopleSoft Pure Internet Architecture or PeopleSoft PIA. It connects to the database and handles almost all the SQL intensive interactions with the database server during the online transaction processing. In the PeopleSoft PIA, the application server interacts with the user workstations through a web server.
You can install PeopleSoft Application Server on the same server as the database – this configuration is known as logical three-tier. You also have the option of installing application server on a separate server – this configuration is also known as physical three-tier.
PeopleSoft Batch Server
PeopleSoft Batch Server is commonly known as Process Scheduler Server. PeopleSoft batch processes, such as COBOL and SQR are scheduled and invoked by a process scheduler server. In almost all configurations, batch server SQR and COBOLs are located and executed on the same computer as the database server.
For Windows specific batch processes such as Crystal Reports, nVision Reports, Cube Builder or Microsoft Word – you need to set up a Windows Batch environment on a Microsoft Windows application server or a dedicated Microsoft Windows workstation. Any computer operating as a batch server must have database connectivity installed so that it can make a two-tier connection to PeopleSoft database.
PeopleSoft Web Server
In the PeopleSoft PIA, the application server interacts with the user workstations through a PeopleSoft web server. Typical PeopleSoft web server filed include PIA installation files, web files, shell scripts, portal search files and Verity are the common files associated with PeopleSoft Web server.
