Analysis of N-Tier Architecture and its Internet Applications

This report provides an explanation and evaluation of the N-tier architecture, comparing it with the traditional model to highlight its advantages. It details how the n-tier architecture, a software engineering architecture, logically and physically separates data management, processing, and presentation functions, enabling them to run independently on different clusters. The report emphasizes the common three-tier structure consisting of data, logic, and presentation tiers, and discusses internet applications of this architecture, such as web browsers, online surveys, and workstation design. It concludes that the n-tier architecture offers several benefits over the traditional MVC model, making it a convenient choice for application manufacturers to design applications effectively.

Running head: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Name of the University
Name of the student
Author note

1INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
The N-tier architecture...........................................................................................................2
Three internet applications of this architecture......................................................................3
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5

2INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Introduction
In the following report, the n tier architecture has been explained and evaluated. It has
been compared with the traditional model to highlight its advantages. The internet
applications of this architecture has been discussed as well in the subsequent sections of the
report.
Discussion
The N-tier architecture
The n-tier architecture is a software engineering architecture that physically and
logically separates the data management, processing and presentation functions from the
application. As there is no resource sharing, these functions can run separately on different
clusters and machines at their maximum capacity. Separating the functions from the
applications makes management easier as no function can affect the other function due to
their isolation (Bilal et al. 2013). Moreover, isolation of an issue in the application becomes
easier due to this architecture. The n tier architecture or multi-tier architecture generally
divides the application into three functions namely data tier, logic tier and presentation tier.
Unlike the framework of MVC or Model view controller, this concept physically
divides the application into separate parts. Another particular difference from the MVC
framework is that the n tier architecture uses a middle layer known as the logic tier to
maintain its communication among all the layers. In MVC, the communication is naturally
triangular where the model, controller and view layer are interconnected (Sarker & Apu,
2014). Still, the traditional MVC layer can be used in the presentation tier in a total n tier
architecture, concluding that both the frameworks are not mutually exclusive.

3INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The three tier architecture is the most common architecture in n tier architecture. The
application logic tier is the decision tier where all the logical thinking happens. This tier is
responsible for reading and writing data into the data tier.
The data tier is responsible for storing and reading the data. The presentation tier is
used as an interaction medium between the user and the application.
Proprietary and standard protocols such as Windows Communication Foundation,
NET Remoting, Java RMI, CORBA and SNMP are used for data transfer in this architecture
(Grozev & Buyya, 2014).
Three internet applications of this architecture
The first internet application of this architecture is seen through a web browser. The
web application which is seen through a web browser is the presentation tier. The HTML,
Javascript and CSS codes helps the web browser to make sense of the web application. After
filling an online form, the passwords are saved in the logic tier where other programs are
present such as PHP, Ruby, Java Sevlets and JSP. The PostgreSQL, NoSQL AND MySQL
databases act as the data tier in this case.
The second application of this architecture can be seen in businesses. Online surveys
which are created by Google Forms usually use this kind of architecture. The Google Form
can be viewed as the presentation tier (Grozev & Buyya, 2013). The data of the user is
similarly saved like the first example in the logic tier (in this case, LAN server). Finally, the
data is then accessed and analysed by the prospective business through the data tier.
The third internet application is used by programmers while designing a workstation.
The programmers carryout their programming in the GUI of the application software. Some
of the data are kept in the local hard disk. The programming logic is carried out in a shared

4INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
computer or a mainframe. This is the second tier and it determines what and where the data
needs to be placed. The third tier usually analyses the data and saves the data in a database.
Conclusion
To conclude the report, it can be stated that the n tier architecture has several
advantages that can be utilized for running an application in an effective manner. Unlike the
traditional MVC model, this architecture has several advantages that makes it convenient for
application manufacturers to design applications in this architecture model.

5INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
References
Bilal, K., Khan, S. U., Zhang, L., Li, H., Hayat, K., Madani, S. A., ... & Xu, C. Z. (2013).
Quantitative comparisons of the state‐of‐the‐art data center
architectures. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 25(12), 1771-
1783.
Grozev, N., & Buyya, R. (2013). Performance modelling and simulation of three-tier
applications in cloud and multi-cloud environments. The Computer Journal, 58(1), 1-
22.
Grozev, N., & Buyya, R. (2014). Multi-cloud provisioning and load distribution for three-tier
applications. ACM Transactions on Autonomous and Adaptive Systems
(TAAS), 9(3), 13.
Sarker, I. H., & Apu, K. (2014). Mvc architecture driven design and implementation of java
framework for developing desktop application. International Journal of Hybrid
Information Technology, 7(5), 317-322.