Understanding Reference Models and Reference Architectures

Understanding

Reference Models and

Reference Architectures

Armstrong Process Group, Inc.www.aprocessgroup.com

Copyright © 1998-2014, Armstrong Process Group, Inc., All rights reserved

Reference Architectures

SATURN 2014

Software Architecture Conference

Portland, Oregon

Objectives

� Discuss industry standard best practices regarding how to use reference models for categorizing architecture content for different purposes

� Planning, lifecycle management, gap analysis and enterprise-wide alignment

� Discuss how reference architectures are used

2

SATURN 2014 – Understanding Reference Models and Reference Architectures


� Discuss how reference architectures are used

� And how they different, but related to reference models

� How they relate to architecture/solution building blocks (per TOGAF)

� Review conceptual metamodel representing these concepts

About APG

� APG’s mission is to

“Align information technology and systems engineering capabilities with business strategy using proven, practical

processes delivering world-class results.”

� Industry thought leader in enterprise architecture, business modeling, process improvement, systems and software engineering, requirements management, and agile methods

3



engineering, requirements management, and agile methods

� Member and contributor to� UML, SysML, SPEM, UPDM at the Object Management Group (OMG)

� TOGAF and ArchiMate at The Open Group

� Eclipse Process Framework (EPF) at the Eclipse Foundation

� Sparx Systems Value-Added Reseller

� IBM Advanced Business Partner

SEI Definitions

� Reference model

� A division of functionality into elements together with the

data flow among those elements

� Reference architecture

� A reference model mapped onto software elements that

implements the functionality defined in the reference model

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implements the functionality defined in the reference model

Software Engineering Institute

Software Architecture Glossary

TOGAF Definitions

� The terms reference architecture and reference model are not used carefully in most literature

� “Reference architecture” and “reference model” have the same relationship as “architecture” and “model”

� Either can exist as either generic or an organization-specific state

5



state

� Typically, generic reference architectures provide architecture team with an outline of their organization-specific reference architecture that will be customized for a specific organization

� Does also incorporate OASIS SOA RM definition

TOGAF 9.1 Architecture Repository

Reference Library (41.3.1)

Reference Model – OASIS

� An abstract framework for understanding significant relationships among the entities of some environment� For development of consistent standards or specifications

supporting that environment

� Consists of minimal set of unifying concepts, axioms and relationships within particular problem domain� Independent of specific standards, technologies,

6



� Independent of specific standards, technologies, implementations, or other concrete details

� OASIS Reference Model for SOA [SOA-RM] provides common language for understanding important features of SOA� Does not address the issues involved in constructing, using or

owning a SOA-based system

OASIS Reference Model for

Service Oriented Architecture v1.0

Reference Model – FEA

� Structure which allows modules and interfaces of a system to be described in consistent manner

� Abstract framework for understanding significant relationships among entities of some environment� For development of consistent standards or specifications

supporting that environment

� Based on small number of unifying concepts

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� Based on small number of unifying concepts� May be used as basis for education and explaining standards to

non-specialist

� Not directly tied to any standards, technologies or other concrete implementation details� Does seek to provide common semantics that can be used

unambiguously across and between different implementations

Federal Enterprise Architecture

Consolidated Reference Model v2.3

OASIS SOA Reference Model – Service Description8





EA TRM – Areas and Categories 9



EA TRM – Technology Component Catalog10



EA TRM – Technology Area11



US Department of Veterans Affairs TRM12



VA TRM Entry – JBoss AS13



OMB Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA)14



� Equips OMB and Federal agencies with common language and framework� Describe and analyze investments

� Enhance collaboration

� Transform Federal government

� Consists of set of interrelated “reference models”� Comprise framework for describing important elements of federal agency operations

� Agency investments can be better managed and leveraged across federal government

Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) v2.3

U.S. White House, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

FEA – Service Reference Model (SRM)15

� Aids in recommending service capabilities to support reuse of business components and services across federal government

� Service domains� Customer Services



� Customer Services

� Process Automation

� Business Management Services

� Digital Asset Services

� Business Analytical Services

� Back Office Services

� Support Services

Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) v2.3

U.S. White House, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

TOGAF Enterprise Continuum16



TOGAF Enterprise Repositories17

SolutionsSolutions

Architecture Repository

Architecture Metamodel

Content Metamodel

External

Reference

Models

External

Reference

Models

Architecture

Landscape

Architecture

Landscape

Strategic

Architectures

Reference Library

Segment

Architectures

Reference

Architectures

Reference Models

Templates

Viewpoint Library

Operations

Repository

Operations

Repository

Infrastructure

Development Method

TOGAF Architecture Repository

www.aprocessgroup.com

View

in ATPL

Reference

models

adopted by

enterprise

Deploys

solutions

Enables

execution

Standards are

Adopted

by the

enterprise

Enables

Best practice

creates

reference

architectures

Standards have

reference

Arti facts in landscape are

structured according to

framework

Operational

Building

BlocksArchitecture

Building

Blocks



Requirements

Repository

Requirements

Repository

Solutions

Repository

Solutions

Repository

Architecture

Board

Architecture

Board

External

Standards

External

Standards

Standards Information

Base

Standards Information

Base

Governance Log

Architecture Capability

Capability

Architectures

Business Standards

Data Standards

Application Standards

Technology Standards

Decision Log

Calendar

Capability

Assessments

Compliance

Assessments

Performance

MeasurementProject Portfolio

Skills

Repository

Organization

Structure

Architecture

Charter

Products

Solution Building

Blocks

Strategic

Requirements

Segment

Requirements

Capability

Requirements

Business

outcomes

delivered

Drivers for

enterprise

Standards are

complied with

Enables

enterprise

Steers and

manages

capabil ity

reference

implementationsStandards

adopted by

enterprise

Best practice

creates

standards

Visibi li ty

and

escalation

Compliance is governed

Landscape

is governed

Solution

Building

Blocks

Blocks

Reference Model – Conceptual Metamodel 18

Model

Reference Model

Name :Text

Type :RM Model Type

Domain of

Interest

«enumerati...

RM Model Type

Ontology

Metamodel

Taxonomy

«enumerati...

Abstraction Level

Abstract

Concrete

Instance

Quality Attribute

Model

Content Model

Name :Text

Level :Abstraction Level

Model User :User

RM Usage

Type :RM Usage Type

«enumerati...

RM Usage Type

Mapping

Categorize

Gap Analysis

1..*

0..*

Children 0..*

Parent 0..1

Children 0..*

0..*

1

0..*0..*

0..*

1..*

1..*Assigns CMAssigned to



RM Element

ID :Text

Name :Text

Description :Text


Is Assignable :Yes/No

Is Managed :Yes/No

/Is Leaf :Yes/No

RM RelationshipManaged Model Element

Owner :Organization Unit

Manager :Person

Status :Lifecycle State

Building Block

Architecture

Building Block

Solution Building

Block

Operational

Building Block

Quality Attribute Value

Type :Quality Attribute

CM Element

Is Managed :Yes/NoCM Relationship

Lifecycle Model

Lifecycle State

1..*

0..1 0..1

Parent 0..1

Related To

10..*Related From

10..*

1..*

0..* 0..* 0..* 0..*

0..*

1..*

Related To

1 0..*

Related From

1 0..*

Assigns CM

Elements

0..*

Assigned to

RM Elements

0..*

1

0..*

Reference Architecture – OASIS Definition

� An architectural design pattern that indicates how an abstract set of elements and relationships realizes predetermined set of requirements in domain of interest� Independent of technologies, protocols, and products that are used to

implement specific solutions

� Differs from reference model in that reference models describe important concepts and relationships in the domain

� Shows more complete picture that includes showing what is

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� Shows more complete picture that includes showing what is involved in realizing the modeled entities� Independent of particular solution but instead applies to class of

solutions

� Possible to define at many levels of detail or abstraction for different purposes� Not a concrete architecture, depending on requirements being

addressed by the reference architecture

� Generally will not completely specify all the technologies, components and their relationships in sufficient detail to enable direct implementation

OASIS Reference Architecture Foundation for


OASIS RA-RM Context20





OASIS RA – Social Structure21





Open Group SOA Reference Architecture22


Copyright © 1998-2014, Armstrong Process Group, Inc., All rights reservedOpen Group SOA Reference Architecture

OG SOA RA – Operational Layer Elements23



OG SOA RA – Operational Layer – Relationships 24



Architecture Description Standard25


Copyright © 1998-2014, Armstrong Process Group, Inc., All rights reservedISO/IEC 42010:2011 (f/k/a IEEE 1471)

Reference Configuration – Conceptual Metamodel26

Reference Configuration

Type :RC Type

Architecture

Description

Principle

Name :Text

Statement :Text

Rationale :Text

Implications :Text

Requirement

Goal

Quality AttributeContent Model

Name :Text


Model User :User

RC Usage

Type :RC Usage Type

0..*

Children 0..*

Parent 0..10..*

0..*0..* 0..*



«enumeration»

RC Type

Architecture

Design

Implementation

Requirement

RC ElementRC Relationship

RM Element

«enumerati...

RC Usage Type

Conformance

Derive

Instantiate

CM Element

Is Managed :Yes/No Quality Attribute Value

Type :Quality Attribute

0..*

Related From

10..*

Related To

10..*

0..*

Assigns CM

Elements

0..*

Assigned to RM

Elements

0..*

1..*

0..*

Conclusion

� Reference models used to represent properties of elements in a domain of interest

� Reference architectures represent configurations of reference model elements created to address specific requirements based on specific set of principles� Could be considered a set of patterns or a pattern language

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� Content model elements can be mapped to reference model elements for categorization/organization purposes� Sometimes used for managing/governing groups of related

content model elements

� Content model elements can be configured instantiations of reference architectures

28

Q&A

Thanks for your attention

and participation!

http://www.aprocessgroup.com



and participation!

"APG", the APG logo, "proven practical process" (and its graphic representation), ATPL, EA-In-A-Box are trademarks of Armstrong Process Group,

Inc.

The Open Group, The Open Group Architecture Framework, TOGAF, and ArchiMate are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Open Group in

the United States and other countries.

Object Management Group, OMG, Model Driven Architecture, MDA, OMG SysML, Unified Modeling Language, and UML are trademarks or registered

trademarks of the Object Management Group, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Sparx Systems and Enterprise Architect are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sparx Systems Pty Ltd.

Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Documents

Understanding Reference Models and Reference Architectures