Vibrant MCSE BOOT Camp Notes :

Corporate Data

The ability of multiple users to control, edit, and update various databases on a network is another important function of both groupware and intranet technology. For example, you can enter a contact and share that information with a group of users on your network, who can update it-like a Rolodex that all employees can utilize. Act and Groupwise are two powerful, high-end contact management software devices that can be used to create such a Rolodex.

Some large companies use distributed databases or other kinds of shared databases on a network, like price lists, inventory, vendor lists, and financial data. Oracle and Sybase make such large databases for networks. These firms also make software applications that can access the information on the databases. However, every computer on the network must run the software to access the database; and each software client must talk to the database in exactly the same way, using closed architecture.

In contrast, with an intranet, the databases can be transferred in any way. It is possible to talk to a Web server, which could in turn talk to the database, pull out information in any format (provided someone has written a CGI script), and display the information in any way requested. With this system, not only is it possible to access data with any kind of computer, but it can be customized to manipulate information, so users with any kind of client machine can both view and update the database.

With corporate information and data, traditional legacy groupware usually provides secure access from the outside world. If your primary database is in your central office, you can create a tool for all users in all your offices, at home, or on the road to connect to that database, typically using dial-up access. The drawback here is that all the machines must be alike and run the same software.

Another disadvantage with this system is that the tool used to access the database is good only for accessing the database. With the intranet, however, your World Wide Web browser tool is useful for browsing through corporate information, looking at public data, and communicating as well. Rather than the ten tools that may be necessary with groupware, only one tool is required to access information on an intranet. One example of such a tool is the "form" that Action Workflow Metro provides. These easy-to-use forms can be used without modification or altered by the user to meet his or her needs.

As a result, as long as you provide a secure method of connection to the intranet (through either the Internet or dial-up access), regardless of where the user is-in a plane, at home, on the road-it is possible to connect to the network, view corporate information, manipulate the database, and communicate with other users. This means more work gets accomplished and users have much greater access to the information than is possible with a typical groupware system.

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