Zeus Application Framework

Overview
The Zeus Application Framework provides a powerful integrated suite of Internet services. The Framework consists of a central hub called the Administration Server, and a set of protocol services which link into the hub like spokes into a wheel. The Framework is platform independent and can consist of applications distributed over a number of UNIX and Windows platforms connected together via a TCP/IP interface.

[Diagram of Zeus Framework]

Administration Server
The Administration Server is the core component of the Zeus Application Framework. It provides a single configuration point for all installed applications by means of a web interface.

[Picture of the Admin Controller]

An application, when installed into the Framework also installs its configuration modules which link into the Administration Server at run-time to provide its configuration interface. The application automatically appears as a seamless part of the Framework.

Network Registry
The Administration Server also contains a Network Registry which holds all the configuration information for the application framework and installed applications.

The Network Registry allows the application 'spokes' to be distributed, that is to say they may run on different machines and architectures to the central hub, but still be controlled and configured from a central interface.

The Network Registry also provides access control to the configuration information contained herein, allowing sections of the configuration hierarchy to be delegated to different departments or users.

Applications
Applications provide the actual Internet services. Applications are distributed in a package format which contains version and dependency information that allows them to be installed into the Framework.

An application consists of a set of configuration modules which link into the Administration Server's web interface, a documentation book which links into the Administration Server's documentation system and the actual server itself which is controlled by these modules.

[Diagram showing installed application]

Any number of applications maybe installed into the Framework. Applications can be installed / removed / upgraded without interfering with the currently running applications in the Framework.

For information on how to write applications which integrate into the Zeus Application Framework, contact sales@zeus.co.uk.