The basic components of a WebFOCUS environment are:

• Web Browser. Enables access to WebFOCUS applications using an HTTP connection to a Web server.
• Web Server. Handles requests for information from the browser, passes the request to WebFOCUS, receives the result from WebFOCUS, and returns it to the Web browser.
• Application Server. Handles all application operations between users and business applications or databases. Some application servers function as both an application server and a Web server.
• WebFOCUS Client. Controls the flow of information between the Web server and WebFOCUS Reporting Server. It passes requests from the Web server to the Reporting Server and, once the Reporting Server has executed the request, it passes the results back to the Web server.
• WebFOCUS Reporting Server. Holds metadata for the data sources WebFOCUS can access, and controls access to those data sources. It is responsible for executing the queries against these data sources and retrieving and formatting the query results, which it then passes to the WebFOCUS client. It provides multiple data adapters that give users access to data in many different types of data sources.
• WebFOCUS Developer Studio. Enables you to create advanced WebFOCUS Web applications using a simple Windows-based GUI environment.

You can add the following optional products to your WebFOCUS environment:

• Managed Reporting. WebFOCUS environment for creating and viewing reports. An important function of Managed Reporting is allowing administrators to create users, define their access rights, and create end-user reports. Users access Managed Reporting to create and view reports using data to which an administrator has granted them access.

  Business Intelligence Dashboard. Managed Reporting comes with an end user portal view to Managed Reporting that enables end users to access WebFOCUS reports using a professional, easily branded Web interface.

• Open Portal Services. Supports integration between Managed Reporting and popular portal products.
• ReportCaster. Provides advanced scheduling and distribution capabilities for WebFOCUS reports (self-service and Managed Reporting) and alerts, as well as, independent files and URLs.
• Report Library. ReportCaster companion that stores reports, files, and the contents of URLs distributed by ReportCaster.
• Two-Way Email. Enables users to request and receive WebFOCUS reports using e-mail. It is especially useful for employees who work remotely. Reports can be delivered in a stripped down text form for easy viewing on mobile devices.
• WebFOCUS Maintain. Extends the WebFOCUS Reporting Server to allow read/write functionality through Developer Studio.