4.2. Choosing a Topology

While many aspects need to be considered for a complete enterprise solution such as IP sprayers, LDAP servers, and firewalls, we only focus on the aspects that directly affect the WebSphere Application Server environment. This includes the software that connects directly to WebSphere Application Server software and is not high up the chain of services such as IP sprayers or down the chain such as network attached storage (NAS) systems.

4.2.1. Topology Planning Considerations

One of the first steps in planning any large software installation is determining the topology in which it will reside. Since WebSphere is middleware, the topologies can become quite complex and require some forethought. The following list provides the considerations that need to be made while planning an appropriate WebSphere topology.