5 Types of EAIs
Point-to-Point Integration
Point-to-point integration stands out as the earliest form of data integration. It creates connections between two nodes or endpoints. You can think of this model as a telephone call; one phone connects to another, and only the callers can hear what's said on the line.
This form of integration involves extracting data from one application and sending it to other data structures. The software tool modifies the structure during the middle of the process so that both parties can understand it. Point-to-point integration works best with small-scale models since it's challenging to maintain at scale.
Hub-and-Spoke Integration
The hub-and-spoke model resembles a bike wheel. The software systems serve as the central force or hub that connects the applications or spokes. When different technologies need to talk, they send data to the hub, which reformats and redistributes the information.
Hub-and-spoke integration eliminates the demand for individual dependencies in the enterprise application. That's because the communication in this system doesn't occur between pairs. Developers should still utilize run time components to ensure data transmission to the correct source.
Bus Integration
Bus integration serves as the next logical step after the hub-and-spoke integration. It operates without human interference, minimizing the chances for a manual error. Instead, the architecture uses a defined set of business rules to dictate the flow of information between data sources.
This model doesn't contain a central rules engine, though it does have a single point of failure. Many enterprises use it to scale from point-to-point integration to reach enterprise-wide implementation. The approach enhances agility and flexibility for high-level communication.
Middleware
Middleware technologies exist between the user interface and operating system. They serve as hidden translators that enable swift data transfers and communication between applications in the system. They're ideal for consolidating and synchronizing a massive data structure across independent systems.
Middleware comes in several forms, including remote procedure call (RPC), message-oriented middleware (MOM), and transaction-processing monitors. Each model serves as a glue between enterprise applications but in different ways. For instance, RPCs allow for the distribution of a single service across multiple programs, while MOMs carry self-contained units of data via the communication channel.
Microservices
Microservices may be small, but they are mighty. The architecture is the modern standard for an enterprise application that relies on cloud computing. Companies that use the cloud can capture and extract data from the microservice and route it to the desired destination.
Microservice technologies have grown in popularity over the last decade. They benefit from easy maintenance, loose coupling, and independent deployment. Companies can organize the technology based on its unique business capabilities, ensuring that they get the most out of the enterprise applications.