On the SIGARRA information system

Architecture

In the SIGARRA system, information is stored in a relational database server (Oracle). The user interface uses the web technology, which, for ease of use, versatility and widespread was chosen from the very beginning to link the various components of the system.

The system includes a component of unstructured data, such as personal pages that are the responsibility of their own creators, or additional pages of Courses, Units, Departments, Services, or others. The creation of these additional pages is up to each producer of information, who can choose their own design.

Therefore, the chosen architecture has a nucleus in which the official information is kept, and the producers of information are free to choose if they want to complete it, without affecting the ability of navigation throughout the entire website of the System.

For example, the official homepage of a course can be linked to a web page supplement, which is the responsibility of a course director.

The consistency of the information system is, therefore, twofold: the consolidation of structured data in a relational database and the access to the information via common web browsers on the client-side, using a HTTP (Web Server) which also serves the HTML pages corresponding to the component of unstructured information.

The technical architecture that supports the SIGARRA system is operated by the Digital University and is lodged in data centres of the University of Porto. This is a redundant architecture, formed by a significant number of servers and storage units, protected by prevention and maintenance services on a 24x7 basis.

For more information of the architecture of the SIGARRA system, contact helpdesk@reit.up.pt.