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==Standalone versus Networked Configuration==
To determine the initial configuration of the IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> IMSMANG system, it is important to understand the two ways in which IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> IMSMANG can be set up and the basic architecture of the system. IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> IMSMANG is a client-server software application designed to run in stand-alone or networked mode. In a stand-alone system, both the IMSMANG client and server are installed on the same computer. The stand-alone configuration is the simpler type of installation: it requires no additional network equipment or infrastructure and is easy to maintain.
The IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> server stores data and manages much of the data processing. The server has two main parts, the datastore and the business layer. The datastore is where data is stored for retrieval by the IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> client. IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> uses a MySQL relational database to store data on the server. Additionally, IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> stores other data including attachments and some configuration files on the server in file format. The MySQL database is accessible via a variety of database access tools designed for browsing relational databases.
CAUTION: While the database contains many relational database constraints designed to preserve data integrity, all updates of data should be handled through the business layer rather than with direct SQL updates in order to maintain integrity. Failure to do so will likely cause data corruption or loss.
The business layer is where rules are implemented to ensure data quality and consistency. The business layer takes data from the datastore and transforms it for display in the IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> client. All data interaction between the client and server database is handled through the business layer, which allows for multiple clients to be connected to the database while preserving data integrity in cases of multiple requests. This includes access from the IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> client and from the reporting tool.