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Data Warehousing and Data Mining

notes point-to-point interfaces

The traditional approach to integration is creation of point-to-point interfaces. The integration
is handled through tools like extract programs, file transfers and update programs with screen-
scraping tools/messaging system/TCP/IP socket connections. But good documentation is
required for further integration or for incorporating changes.

Disadvantages/Constraints

1. If the number applications connected are many this leads to inter application spaghetti.
2. The approach is labor intensive and involves high cost and risk. It also does not assist if
applications need to be changed or added.
3. The maintenance costs are also huge.

integration with packaged integration Brokers

Integration brokers/message brokers are a type of high-level middleware. They work as
follows:
1. Data level integration assists in accessing and updating of data in different applications
by directly accessing the source and target applications’ data either in files or database
management systems.
2. Program level integration invokes existing application code to implicitly access the target
application’s data.

Tasks Performed by Integration Brokers

1. Interfacing-to move data to and fro applications
2. Transforming-to convert the semantic content of the data
3. Distributing-to move data between applications

4. Routing-to determine the destination of the data
5. Managing-to instrument the process and provide a toolset to support operator control of
the process.

Characteristics of Message Broker/ Integration Broker

1. Scalability

(a) For content based and subject based routing
(b) For incrementing applications
2. Advanced team development and management development capability-version control,
source code management etc

3. Handle batch as well as near real time integrations
4. Handle integration of mainframe as well as client/server capability
5. Low to moderate learning curve
6. Strong service and support capabilities to assist with project management
7. Vendor reputation

120 LoveLy professionaL university