Configure platform templates for the technical architecture

The definition of platform templates allows you to partition the technology platform into low-variety, high-reusability platform core functions. Platform templates are then used to structure standard platforms to ensure standardization in terms of the specification and documentation of application platforms in the enterprise.

A platform template is a matrix structure made up of a standard set of platform layers and platform tiers. It serves as a reference grid when defining standard platforms and application platforms. A platform template structures the platform in two dimensions:

• Platform tiers make up the horizontal axis. Depending on the platform methodology you use, the platform tiers typically represent verticals of responsibility or, in the case of a traditional n-tier architecture, the physical deployment of components on separate physical machines. For example, platform tiers could be:
  • Mobile/Client
  • Presentation
  • Business
  • Integration
  • Resource
• Platform layers make up the vertical axis. Layers describe levels of abstraction. They cut across all tiers and define what kinds of services or capabilities each part of the platform depends on. For example, the platform layers could be:
  • Business layer
  • Software infrastructure layer
  • Hardware layer

You can create other platform tiers and platform layers and bundle them in a new platform template. Based on the platform template, users can create standard platforms which serves as blueprints for the technologies to be used when documenting an application's platform.

Go to Configuration > Reference Data > and click the Platform Architecture page in the content area.

Create new platform tiers. In the Platform Tiers view, click the   plus sign button > Create New Platform Tier and define its name and position in the platform tier hierarchy.

Create new platform layers. In the Platform Layers view, click the   plus sign button > Create New Platform Layer and define its name and position in the platform layer hierarchy.

Create a new platform template. In the Platform Templates view, click the   plus sign button > Create New Platform Template and define its name and select the platform tiers and platform templates to include in the platform template and click OK. Select the new platform template in the dataset and click the   select button > Set to Default Platform Template and position in the platform tier hierarchy. The platform template is automatically displayed in the Platform Architecture page when a new application is created.