TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

Niche RMS is an n-tier system, with properly partitioned presentation logic, business logic, data access logic and data storage. The architecture is highly flexible and scalable, allowing it to be hosted on a single mobile workstation, a set of distributed cooperating servers, or a large enterprise-level, load-shared server farm.

Most users use the desktop client for the majority of their work. A Web browser interface is supported for query and a Web service (among other technologies) for interfaces, including handheld mobile clients available from third party suppliers.

System components:

RMS database. The relational database server is responsible for data storage and retrieval. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or Microsoft SQL Server 2000 can be used. The database server can be installed in a failover cluster and/or with a remote disaster recover site.

Niche Data Server (NDS). The application server (NDS) implements security, audit logging, and business logic. The desktop client, Web server and interfaces all access the system through NDS, ensuring that security, logging and business logic are uniformly enforced. NDS is usually installed on a set of load-balanced servers, providing both load distribution and redundancy.

RMS client. The desktop RMS client application presents the system's graphical user interface (GUI) to the user. The client has integration facilities that allow plug-ins to be installed to facilitate interfaces with other systems at the client level.

Web server. Niche uses Microsoft IIS to support both the Web application (browser interface) and the extensible Web service used by many interfaces. The Web service can be configured to perform any operation available to the desktop client, making it possible to create powerful interfaces and custom client applications.

Other clients. Third party developers have built BlackBerry and Windows Mobile client applications that access Niche RMS, using either the Web service interface or the Niche-supplied APIs to communicate with NDS. Niche also supplies specialized client applications such as the Bulk Document Loader, which is optimized to load scanned and faxed documents into the system.

Interfaces. Interfaces can use either the Web service or the Niche-supplied APIs to communicate with NDS. Interfaces can perform any action that a desktop user can. Examples of common interfaces are CAD/Command & Control, Human Resources and criminal justice partners.