Web Architecture Plan
CE Tech services has recently launched of a couple of blogging services FYI and Coop Connection (password protected). These two services are just a couple of pieces of a larger web presence that is currently being delivered.
In the pdf file linked below you will find a high-level diagram of the web architecture we are planning. The majority of our upcoming efforts will focus on developing the Intranet part of the plan. The goal is to launch the new Intranet service fall of 2010.
The Portal piece of the plan will follow after the Intranet. In the mean time, another part of our effort will be in the area of deploying frameworks for the deployment of content that will “feed” the portal. By frameworks, I mean systems such as WordPress, Drupal etc.
There are many advantages to these services. WordPress has been configured as a self-service model which means anyone in Coop may create a site whenever they decide it’s needed. This helps breakdown the bottleneck in getting content out in a timely fashion.
These frameworks come with the come with the capacity to provide RSS feeds. RSS is the technology that will enable us to automatically aggregate the content in the Portal and thus provide up to date information at the portal and a way for content to be found back at its site.
These frameworks are flexible, scalable and maintainable. By flexible for example, I mean that within a single installation of WordPress we may install various themes and plugins that allow us to easily change the appearance and functionality of site to meet the specific needs of the site. By scalable, I mean that with a single code install we are able to support a large number of sites. And by maintainable, I mean we have a single and/or consistent code base that we support. This is important for reasons such as security patches and upgrades. It is relatively easy to upgrade this code base for all of the sites versus updating custom code for a number of sites.
The last two new pieces of the architecture are the independently produced sites and cloud based web services. CE Tech Services knows that sites are at times created and maintained independently outside of our services. If a person or group chooses to do so, we are looking to eventually be able to incorporate that information into our portal. But, the responsibility will be on the creators of those sites to make sure the site has an RSS feed and the portal is aware of the content.
The cloud based web services (e.g. YouTube, Google Maps etc.) that an individual or group chooses to use may also be aggregated at the portal, but again, the responsibility will be on the creators of those sites to make sure the services has an RSS feed and portal is aware of the content. An upcoming post will address the use of cloud web services once the policy has been finalized.
The final piece of the architecture is our legacy content. While at this point a time line has not been established, the legacy content will be either moved into the Intranet or one of the new services. Then when appropriate the legacy system will be shut down. Given the nature of the legacy content, it will not be aggregated into the new Portal.
For more information you can use these links:
CES Web Architecture Overview diagram
Filed under: Architecture, IT Director News, Projects | Tagged: Architecture, portal, web site