Chapter 4

Intranets and Extranets

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OBJECTIVES

• What is Intranet?• Software Applications• Architecture of

software• E-mail and Intranet • Extranets

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WHAT IS AN INTRANET?

• An organization-wide software and data system applying Internet technology to a closed network

• A network of application and wired machines (software + hardware)

• Usually runs in a client/server environment and a local area network configuration

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WHY INTRANET: BENEFITS

• Links employees and managers together

• Automates a lot of intraorganizational traffic (e.g., reduce inter-office mail)

• Establishes the foundation for developing enterprise-wide systems integration (e.g., Web order + order processing + delivery)

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SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

• Human Resources– Timesheets (PeopleSoft, Oracle)– Internal/external recruiting– Company calendars

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APPLICATIONS (Cont’d)

• Accounting and Finance– Expense reports– Accounts receivable/payable

processing– Payroll (PeopleSoft)

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TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

• Client/Server Basis– Client/Server software

architecture: client requests and server responses

– As opposed to mainframe architecture: all intelligence is within the central host computer

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TWO-TIER ARCHITECTURE DESIGN

User System Interface

Database Management

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THREE-TIER ARCHITECTURE DESIGN

User System Interface

Database Management

Process Management

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BASIC INTRANET COMPONENTS

• Server and Client PCs

• Web Server/Browsers

• Electronic Mail

• Network File System (NFS)

• Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

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E-MAIL TIPS

• Write in different color to express attitude or mood

• Keep sentences short• Be aware of your office and

organization culture• Avoid flaming• Don’t use e-mail to send bad

news• Don’t type in capital letters

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EXTRANETS

• Let limited, controlled business partners interact with the firm for all kinds of exchanges

• Benefits: customer (partner) loyalty, increased partner interaction, and improved processes

• Enabled by VPN – Virtual Private Network

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Example: VPN Client

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Exercises

• What is three-tier architecture?

• Why is Intranet needed?

• What is the architecture of Intranet?

• What is a go-between agent?

• What is called an angry response to an email?

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Summary

• What is Intranet?

• Software Applications on Intranet

• Technical Infrastructure (N-tie architecture)

• E-mail and Intranet

• Extranets