System architecture and components

To prepare for installation, you must set up the required components of a Maximo® Asset Management deployment.

Maximo Asset Management requires multiple software servers that are referred to as middleware. The middleware components can run on one or more computers. The components that are used in a typical Maximo Asset Management installation are illustrated in the following figure.

The following components are required for a Maximo Asset Management installation:

Administrative workstation

Used to install Maximo Asset Management. After the installation, use the administrative workstation to make updates or changes to the configuration.

Database

Stores all information about assets, such as their conditions, their locations, and related records in any of the supported databases.

You can store this information in the IBM® DB2® database that is provided in the product installation image. 

A list of supported databases is provided in the system requirements information, available from the Quick Start.

Application server

Manages the Maximo Asset Management JavaServer Pages (JSPs), XML, and business logic components. Maximo Asset Management uses a commercial Java™ 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) application server.

You can use the IBM WebSphere® Application Server software that is provided in the product installation image. 

Maximo Asset Management supports Oracle WebLogic Server.

Web browser

You access the Maximo Asset Management applications by using a Web browser, connected over a company network or over the Internet.

In addition to the required components, you can use the following optional components with Maximo Asset Management:

HTTP server

You can configure a separate, dedicated HTTP server to work with the J2EE application server.

Directory server

You can configure a directory server, such as a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, to provide identity management and authentication for the J2EE server.