Visualizing the components of multi-tier applications

Using data from Application Performance Analysis, multi-tier applications can be automatically parsed and visualized as a diagram. Each diagram displays the observed dependencies of a multi-tier application, such as the servers involved and clients served.

This feature is known as Application Dependency Mapping, and the key to its use is a single report element: the Application Dependency Discovery Diagram.

Multi-tiered applications typically rely on multiple servers passing information. In complex network environments, it can be difficult to track or realize the dependency one server has on another server. The Application Dependency Discovery Diagram element can help expose those dependencies.

For example, you may have legacy equipment in your network environment. This equipment has been on your network for years, but what exactly is it responsible for? Would removing it from the network harm any existing applications and solutions? The answers may have been lost over time, but ORS can help you understand those dependencies before you act.

The workflow, for using this feature, requires some steps be performed in the ORS application and some steps in the web interface. In order, these are the high-level steps required:

1.	Add a Application Dependency Discovery Diagram report element to a new or existing report. For details, see How to add application dependency elements.

2.	View this report using your web browser. For details, see How to view reports from a browser.

3.	Begin your discovery from the report element. For details, see How to operate an application dependency element.