Data Transformation Engine Integration Flow Designer Reference Guide

Chapter 4 - How the Integration Flow Designer Works Component Relationships in a System
Integration Flow Designer Reference Guide
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There are four basic source and target types: file, database, message, and
application. Within these four types, wide ranges of options are available to
retrieve data from a remote location and to send data to a remote location, similar
to the following scenarios:
♦ A map source or target can be a file that is in a shared location, allowing
multiple servers to have direct access to it.
♦ Using the application adapter architecture, you can use any connectivity
method to retrieve data from a remote location and to send data to a remote
location. For example, you can use sockets, remote procedure calls, or directly
call a local application that connects indirectly to another server to pass data.
Databases and messages within messaging systems can also be accessed
remotely.
The primary benefit of a distributed system is that you decide which subsystem
components run on specific servers so that you can balance the overall execution
load of the system across the servers in your enterprise. The data flow between
servers is managed automatically as maps are executed. You do not need a global
manager to coordinate this data flow.
You can easily add more servers to a distributed system at a later time. The IFD
enables you to rearchitect the distribution of subsystem components across a new
set of servers.
Component Relationships in a System
You use the IFD to define the relationship between system components. As soon
as you add map components to a system, an implied relationship exists. Based on
the sources and targets you specify, the IFD deciphers if data flows between
components at execution time. Data flow links automatically appear between
components, drawing out a diagram of how the system will behave at execution
time.
There are three types of links: internal, external, and pseudo.
Note Refer to Chapter 9 - Links for more information about linking and component
relationships.