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AspenTechs Solution for Enterprise- wide Decision Support Networks AspenTechs Solution for Enterprise-
wide Decision Support Networks
John Hollier
Director, Product Marketing, Aspen Technology
Gregg Otto
Network Consultant, New Frontier
August 25, 1998 Aspen Technology, Inc.
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Enterprise-wide Decision Support Networks
Table of Contents
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 1
1
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Business Decisions and Access to Critical Plant Data ................................................. 2
1.2 General Description of Decision Support Network...................................................... 4
1.3 Logical Network Design Philosophy............................................................................ 5
1.3.1 Data Flow Diagram ...................................................................................... 5
1.3.2 Hierarchical Servers ..................................................................................... 8
2
Communications Infrastructure .......................................................................................... 9
2.1 Decision Support Network Requirements .................................................................... 9
2.2 Communications Model ............................................................................................. 10
2.3 Physical & Logical Networks..................................................................................... 11
2.3.1 General ....................................................................................................... 11
2.3.2 LAN (Local Area Network) - Shared versus Switched.............................. 13
2.4 WANConnectivity Options .................................................................................... 15
2.4.1 Analog Modems ......................................................................................... 15
2.4.2 ISDN........................................................................................................... 16
2.4.3 Leased Lines............................................................................................... 17
2.4.4 Frame Relay ............................................................................................... 18
2.4.5 ATM ........................................................................................................... 20
2.4.6 Virtual Private Networks & Internet .......................................................... 20
2.4.7 Summary of Network Connectivity............................................................ 22
2.5 Network Security........................................................................................................ 22
2.5.1 Intranet Security Policy .............................................................................. 23
2.5.2 Network Access.......................................................................................... 24
2.5.3 Authentication and Security ....................................................................... 27
2.5.4 Data Integrity & Privacy ............................................................................ 28
2.6 IMS Security............................................................................................................... 30
2.6.1 Object Security ........................................................................................... 31
2.6.2 Transaction Security................................................................................... 31
2.6.3 Privilege Security ....................................................................................... 31
2.6.4 Operating System Security ......................................................................... 32
2.7 Infrastructure Management ........................................................................................ 32
2.8 Glossary of Terms ...................................................................................................... 34 Aspen Technology, Inc.
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Enterprise-wide Decision Support Networks
List of Figures
Figure 1-1 Decision Support Network ............................................................................................ 3
Figure 1-2 InfoPlus.21 Sample Architecture................................................................................... 4
Figure 1-3 Aspen Process Explorer Display.................................................................................... 6
Figure 1-4 AspenTechs Event Display .......................................................................................... 7
Figure 1-5 Corporate Network Layout ............................................................................................ 8
Figure 2-1 Open Systems Interconnection Model......................................................................... 10
Figure 2-2 Shared Media Environment ......................................................................................... 11
Figure 2-3 Switched Ethernet Environment .................................................................................. 12
Figure 2-4 Frame Relay Network.................................................................................................. 18
Figure 2-5 Virtual Private Networking.......................................................................................... 21 Aspen Technology, Inc.
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Enterprise-wide Decision Support Networks
Abstract
Increasingly the critical role of information in securing and sustaining competitiveness and
productivity is being realized in industry. Access to plant and business data in a timely manner is
fundamental to manufacturing competitiveness in process industries.
The delivery of business-critical operational and plant information of all types is enabled by an
adequate decision support infrastructure.
An information management system (IMS), such as
AspenTechs InfoPlus.21 integrated with related functions,
provides the foundation for information
collection, storage and retrieval of plant operating data for manufacturing effectiveness. An IMS serves as
the backbone for applications providing data integration, application support, and user interface tools.
This
paper presents the information architecture infrastructure requisite to an enterprise-wide process
decision support. Aspen Technology, Inc.
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Enterprise-wide Decision Support Networks
1 Introduction
1.1 Business Decisions and Access to Critical Plant Data
Corporate access to plant data is critical in making timely and accurate decisions in industry
today. Accessing real-time data allows managers, accountants, schedulers and planners to make
business critical decisions and evaluate the impact of those decisions. Merging the technology
and business needs of industry requires a well-developed decision support network.
Industry leaders such as Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP), and Baan,
two of the worlds leading providers of scalable enterprise business solutions, make use of
production data and schedules to deliver and integrate state-of-the-art modular corporate
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions. Having automated transfer of production
totals provides the plant floor personnel with a higher reliability of data and in turn the necessary
data to schedule changes on the plant floor and reflect those changes back to management
instantaneously.
All decisions from
operating
parameter changes to plant maintenance (scheduled and preventive)
to complex process
design
issues require accumulated
knowledge
on the part of the decision-
maker. The information system (InfoPlus.21) provides the backbone to support knowledge
accumulation. When coupled with applications that transform and display the incoming resultant
data to produce performance characteristic, direct action by the plant staff is possible. This
functionality transforms the information system into a knowledge repository.
The above paragraph describes an Enterprise-wide Decision Support Network. By implementing
a decision support network based on AspenTechs InfoPlus.21, the following benefits can be
realized:
Access to larger volumes of data on demand
Improved production and utilities tracking and monitoring
Equipment performance monitoring and analysis Aspen Technology, Inc.
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Enterprise-wide Decision Support Networks
Improved and more consistent product quality
Access to important decision-support information
Increased production capacity and/or yields
Enhanced inventory tracking and monitoring
Reduction in production lead times
Enhanced planning and scheduling of production events
Quick easy access to real-time process information for decision support
The remainder of this document will briefly describe a decision support network and follow with
a discussion on the technology available to build the communications infrastructure necessary to
build an Enterprise-wide Decision Support Network. Because of the importance of this
technology, decisions of purchase, structure, and operation of computer networks cannot be left to
technical staff alone. Management as well has a critical need for understanding the technology of
computer networks.
Communicatio