System architecture and components
Maximo Anywhere and MobileFirst form a mobile application platform that integrates with the Maximo® Asset Management enterprise system. Maximo Anywhere provides the content that is required to build mobile apps for Maximo Asset Management. The MobileFirst components function as middleware by enabling integration with the enterprise system and by supporting the deployment of apps to mobile devices.
Maximo Integration Framework is included in the Maximo Asset Management 7.6 environment. This framework is required to enable the integration between Maximo Asset Management and external applications. The Integration Framework includes the OSLC capabilities and service providers that are used by the Maximo Anywhere apps to retrieve and process enterprise data.
OSLC is installed on the Maximo Asset Management administrative workstation as part of the Maximo Anywhere package.
The following figure shows the system architecture of Maximo Anywhere and highlights the relationship with key components in Maximo Asset Management and MobileFirst.
- Maximo Integration Framework
- This framework is required to enable the integration between Maximo Asset Management and external applications. The Integration Framework includes the OSLC capabilities and service providers that are used by the Maximo Anywhere apps to retrieve and process enterprise data. For Maximo Asset Management 7.5 environments, you must install the Integration Framework manually. Maximo Asset Management 7.6 environments include the Integration Framework.
- IBM OSLC Content package 7.6.0
- OSLC resources define the metadata for business objects of OSLC service providers. The OSLC resources are used by the mobile apps to retrieve and process application data from the service providers in Maximo Asset Management.
- Maximo Anywhere Enablement 7.6.2
- The enablement package includes application files, license enablement files, and cron task automation. The enablement package also includes the Anywhere Administration application, which is deployed as part of the MaximoAnywhere project.
The following components are deployed when you implement Maximo Anywhere:
- IBM® Maximo Anywhere
- A collection of resources that are required for integration and deployment on the MobileFirst platform. These resources include a MobileFirst-compatible project and an OSLC adapter. The OSLC adapter manages communications between MobileFirst Server and the provider application, Maximo Asset Management. Before run time, the Maximo Anywhere project WAR, the applications, and the OSLC adapter must be deployed to MobileFirst Server. The mobile apps can be configured, tested, and deployed to an emulator or a mobile device.
- IBM MobileFirst® Platform Server for MobileFirst Consumer Edition
- A runtime container for the OSLC adapter and server-based application components. MobileFirst Server includes an administrative console and an app store for publishing mobile apps within the organization. MobileFirst Server must be deployed to an application server. The same application server can be used to deploy both Maximo Asset Management and MobileFirst Server.
- Application Center
- The Application Center is an enterprise
app store that you can use for deploying the Maximo Anywhere apps to mobile devices in your
organization. Application Center is
automatically installed with MobileFirst
Server. Application Center is composed of a server component,
a repository, the Application Center console,
and a mobile client app.
- Server component:
The server component is a Java™ Enterprise application that must be deployed in a web application server, such as WebSphere® Application Server.
The server component consists of an administration console and a mobile client. The mobile client installs the apps that are available to the client component.
Several services compose the Application Center server component, such as a service that lists the available apps, and a service that delivers the app binary files to the mobile device.
- Repository:
The repository stores the apps that can be installed on mobile devices. The repository is a database that also stores information, such as feedback about the apps, and the amount of storage that an app uses.
- Application Center console:
The Application Center console is a web application that is used to manage the repository. You must have system administrator privileges to access the Application Center console.
- Mobile client:
The mobile client runs on mobile devices and is used to install the apps that reside in the repository.
- Server component:
- IBM MobileFirst Platform Studio for MobileFirst Consumer Edition (Optional)
- An Eclipse-based integrated development environment that can be deployed with Maximo Anywhere.
MobileFirst Studio is installed as an Eclipse add-on by using a P2 Eclipse update.
MobileFirst Studio is used to configure and test the Maximo Anywhere apps, and to manage the build and deployment process.
The following items are not included in the Maximo Anywhere product license. However, you can deploy these items to the Maximo Anywhere environment to extend and complement the capabilities that are available in the product itself.
- Map services
- The map view uses positioning data that is provided by Maximo Asset Management. Maximo Asset Management can be configured to obtain this positioning data from ArcGIS, an external geographic information system. You can also configure the map view to show a route and directions between work order locations. To support this configuration, you must either have permissions from the map service provider, Esri or you must install and obtain a license for IBM Maximo Spatial Asset Management.
- Mobile Device Management
- You can deploy IBM MaaS360 Mobile Device Management with Maximo Anywhere to complement the mobile app management capabilities that MobileFirst provides. IBM MaaS360 Mobile Device Management provides mobile device management capabilities, including security management, for your mobile organization.