While the PeopleSoft 8 applications seem simple when viewed from the desktop, theres a lot happening behind the scenes to deliver that screen of HTML. Besides using the browser from Microsoft or Netscape, theres the Web server (Apache, BEAs WebLogic Server or Microsofts Internet Information Server); an application server running on Windows NT/2000, AIX 4.3, HP-UX 11, Solaris 7/8 and several flavors of Tru64 Unix 5; and, of course, the database, which could be from IBM, Oracle, Microsoft or Sybase. PeopleSoft incorporates the services of BEAs Tuxedo extensively.
Application server code is developed in the graphical PeopleTools environment. Application logic, screen layouts, business-process flows and other objects are stored as metadata. At execution, this metadata is retrieved and executed to deliver the application. All of the pieces, parts and nomenclature get complex quickly. For a more detailed explanation of all of the parts, visit www.peoplesoft.com/en/us/products/technology/index.html.