Vanguard Server

The Vanguard Server is used to host Web-based applications built with Vanguard Studio™. This makes it possible for users to apply high-end decision-support methods using only a Web browser interface. The server also allows you to integrate decision-support applications with your existing Web site.

The Vanguard System Server acts simultaneously as an Application Server, Library Server, and a Licensing Server.

As an Application Server, the Vanguard Server makes all of your models available as Web-based applications that anyone in your organization can access. This makes it possible to leverage the knowledge captured in your system by making it available to a large user group. The Web-based interface is simple enough to use that no training is required. Yet, the interface provides users with access to the internal structure of a model, contributing further to the openness and transparency required for users to understand and trust the models.

As a Library Server, the Vanguard Server makes models available to other model builders as components. For example, if you are building a model to calculate the expected profit for a new product, you might link to sales and production cost models that other model builders have generated. The original designers of the sales and cost component models can maintain their models independently from your profit model and the server manages all interaction between the components.

The server also keeps track of version information so you can roll back all components to their state at any time in history. The server supports user authentication and access controls, enforces policy restrictions, provides search capabilities, and offers a host of other features required to maintain the integrity and usefulness of your library.

As a Licensing Server, the Vanguard Server lets you share a limited number of Studio licenses among many individuals in your company. Most users will find the Web-based interface sufficient for their needs. However, if a user wants to interact with a model using Studio, he/she can access a floating license for a day rather than purchase a dedicated license.

The server is a fully-functioning HTTP Web server. In addition to Vanguard application hosting, the server supports:

• SSL encryption,
• User Authentication,
• ODBC connections,
• Data compression,
• Load-balancing, and
• Fail-over.

The server can be used with the Vanguard Load-balancing Gateway to create a high-capacity, high-availability server farm.

The Vanguard System™ server is simple to install and configure.