Deployment modes
Connecting Dynamics Mobile with ERP
Overview
In most cases, an organization may start to use Dynamics Mobile Platform after they obtain access to a new tenant. The system administrator will install the needed apps , will eventually setup and import initial business data and the users may start working with the system. All of the technical details regarding the infrastructure, the databases and other storages are handled automatically by Dynamics Mobile Platform.
This is called stand-alone deployment mode - e.g. all software components are automatically deployed and managed by Dynamics Mobile Platform. This is the quickest way to start working, because it requires minimum configurations.
The deployment mode concept defines if external (third-party) software components are required for the organization to be able to automate their business processes and start working with the system.
There are 4 deployment modes
Stand-alone
Connected
Hybrid
Note that when we talk about "deployment" mode, it only applies to the deployment of the Dynamics Mobile components and it is not related to the deployment type of other connected softwares like ERPs. The actual deployment of the external components (ERPs) are not discussed here and we assumes that they are already deployed and configured properly
Deployment modes
Stand-alone
The organization uses only Dynamics Mobile tenant and apps and there is not need to connect it with third party systems.
There is no ERP
Backend apps can be used
Mobile apps can be used
Backend apps can NOT send/receive data from ERP
Mobile apps can NOT send/receive data from ERP
Users, Roles, Permissions , access to apps are managed via DMS Platform
Apps are developed/customized via Dynamics Mobile Platform
Connected
The Connected deployment mode is used when there is a need for Dynamics Mobile Platform to be connected with a backend system like ERP. In this case Dynamics Mobile Platform is "directly" connected with the ERP via the public internet.
Highlights:
There is ERP, connectable online
Backend apps can be used
Mobile apps can be used
Backend apps can send/receive data from ERP
Mobile apps can send/receive data from ERP
Users, Roles, Permissions , access to apps are managed via DMS Platform
Apps are developed/customized via Dynamics Mobile Platform
The ERP system must expose API accessible from public internet to allow Dynamics Mobile Platform to connect from internet. Dynamics Mobile Platform can "communicate" out-of-the-box with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, deployed "on-line".
Hybrid
The "Hybrid deployment mode" is similar to the Connected - e.g. required, when there is a need for Dynamics Mobile Platform to be connected with ERP. However in this case, the the ERP is placed behind a "firewall" inside the corporate network. This means that Dynamics Mobile Platform will not be able to connect to the ERP directly and usually the organizations will not "publish" the ERP APIs outside the corporate network. We need a way to work around this limitation.
The solution is the deployment of additional software component called Dynamics Mobile Agent ( DMS Agent). DMS Agent is a lightweight software component, which exposes API to communicate with Dynamics Mobile Platform. It is highly recommended to be deployed in DMZ. Depending on the actual apps and functionality used from the users, it might require either outbound internet connection or both inbound and outbound internet connection.
Live Link. The Hybrid mode suggest that the communication between the mobile apps and the ERP goes via Dynamics Mobile Platform and DMS Agent. However, DMS Platform may "redirect" the mobile apps requests directly to DMS Agent, when the applications requires "real-time" communication with the ERP and skip the communication with the SaaS platform. This feature is called "Direct Live Link"
Highlights:
There is ERP. ERP is behind firewall.
Backend apps can be used
Mobile apps can be used
Backend apps can send/receive data from ERP
Mobile apps can send/receive data from ERP
Backend apps can use Direct Live Link to ERP
Mobile apps can use Direct Live Link to ERP
Users, Roles, Permissions , access to apps are managed via DMS Platform
Apps are developed/customized via Dynamics Mobile Platform
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