System overview

A Content Manager OnDemand system consists of client programs and server programs that communicate over a network running the TCP/IP communications protocol, a database manager that maintains index data and server control information, and storage managers that maintain documents on various types of storage devices.

Content Manager OnDemand client programs run on workstations attached to the network and communicate with Content Manager OnDemand servers. Content Manager OnDemand client programs operate on personal computers running Windows systems. The client program is the user's way to search for and retrieve data stored on the system. Using the client program, users can construct queries and search for reports, retrieve documents from Content Manager OnDemand, view, print, email, and fax copies or pages of documents, and attach electronic notes to pages of a document.

Content Manager OnDemand provides the capability to do most client functions from almost any operating system, by using a Web browser.

Content Manager OnDemand servers manage control information and index data, store and retrieve documents and resource group files, and process query requests from Content Manager OnDemand client programs. The documents can reside on disk, cloud, disk pools, optical, and tape. New reports can be loaded into Content Manager OnDemand every day. That way, Content Manager OnDemand can retrieve the latest information generated by application programs.

When a user submits a query, the client program sends a search request to the Content Manager OnDemand server. The server returns the list of documents that match the query to the user. When the user selects a document for viewing, the client program retrieves a copy of the document from the server where the document is stored, opens a viewing window, and displays the document.