The Basics of System Design

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned IT professional, it pays to be familiar with the basics of system design. This is especially true if you're involved in designing and implementing a new IT infrastructure, or in upgrading an existing one.

Architecture

Architecting a system is an important process to consider, as it can impact its performance and reliability. It also allows stakeholders to be engaged in the design process. The process can help reduce risks involved in building a technical solution. It can also help to bridge business and technical requirements.

The overall goal of system architecture is to identify requirements that will impact the structure of the application. This can be done by defining the key components of the system and selecting one or more alternative architectures.

The architecture process involves multiple activities, including definition of system requirements, analysis of relevant stakeholder information, defining a comprehensive solution based on principles, properties, and concepts, and developing and maintaining models and documentation. The process can be managed by establishing and implementing an architecture management process.

Components

Several components are included in a system design. There are hardware and software applications that can be implemented in order to achieve a desired outcome. In fact, one project may implement more than one system design. This is the case for many large and small companies. A triangular design aides the project manager by forcing a logical perspective on the process.

It's no secret that engineers are tasked with producing a slew of artifacts. Some are purely functional while others are a combination of the two. Using the right combinations in the right proportions can yield results worthy of an award for innovation. In fact, a well-executed product lifecycle management plan will prove it.

The following are a few of the many components involved in a system design. The most important are the high level functional components. These include the motherboard, the central processing unit, and the main memory. The lesser-known components include the disk drive, the network, and the peripheral devices.

Interfaces

Whether you are designing a desktop computer or building a smart home, having a solid foundation for your data is an essential ingredient in your success story. This article will explore the top-notch data management technologies that will enable you to get started.

In this article, we will discuss the big three: databases, interfaces and network protocols. By using the right technology, you can get your design project off the ground in no time. As you move from one phase to the next, you can rest assured that your project will be a resounding success.

The top-notch software suites available today will allow you to manage data relationships in a way that is both scalable and cost-effective. To name a few, you'll find a number of products that can help you implement a single- or multi-protocol gateway, a distributed system with multiple subsystems, or an API protocol-based interface.

Performance

Using design specifications to assess system performance has become a novel approach to performance analysis. Early predictions, which represent only details from design models, tend to be optimistic. But they cannot keep pace with new information. A more complex solution is required.

In a traditional SPE process, the performance analyst constructs performance models from sequence diagrams. He or she defines performance requirements and establishes workload intensities for the key performance scenarios. They also use existing functional models of the system to identify key requirements.

Performance analysis can be done using a variety of tools. A performance model can be created manually, or it can be generated automatically. This approach reduces the cost and effort required to maintain design and performance models in sync.

However, manual translation between design and performance models can be tedious and laborious. The S-PMIF+ is an XML-based interchange format that enables performance analysis tools to read and write performance models. This format is MOF-compliant and enables performance engineers to work with system designers' models. The models are then fed into performance engineering analysis tools.

Cost

Whether you're evaluating a new telecomm system or looking to redesign an old one, the cost of system design and implementation should be on your to-do list. The cost of system design is comprised of many components such as hardware, software, procurement of subsystems, construction, and technical support. With the increasing complexity and cost of IT, decision makers are looking for a system design that delivers a payback for years to come. In some instances, a COTS solution may be a better choice than building one from scratch.

The cost of system design is best estimated using a combination of cost and complexity models. This may include estimates based on the actual cost of the components, cost of labor, and estimates of the time and resources required to implement and maintain the system. Having a cost estimate in hand should enable you to compare the cost of system design to existing COTS systems.