Services and AIF architecture [AX 2012]

Microsoft Dynamics ax Expose functionality through services that are based on Windows Communication foundation and hosted on Application Object Server. External applications and client applications on the local area network consume Microsoft Dynamics AX services by accessing them directly from AOS. These clients and applications include Microsoft Dynamics AX components such as the Microsoft Dynamics AX client, Office Add-ins for Microsoft Dynamics AX, and Enterprise Portal for Microsoft Dynamics AX. Internet-based external applications and clients access the Microsoft Dynamics AX services through Internet Information Services (IIS). IIS routes the incoming requests for Microsoft Dynamics AX services to AOS. All services requests, regardless of their origin, are handled by the WCF runtime that is hosted on AOS.

Users and communication

Following are the portal users
• Employees connecting through Internet or Intranet
• Customer connection through extranet
• Unsolicited vendors who want to sign up to be vendors, and who access Microsoft Dynamics AX through a public Internet site
All Web users access Microsoft Dynamics AX through Enterprise Portal.
• All browser-based clients and Microsoft Dynamics AX clients access Role Centers through Enterprise Portal. Microsoft Dynamics AX clients use a browser control to display Role Centers.
• Enterprise Portal uses the Report Web part to display reports that exist on the SQL Server Reporting Services server.
• Enterprise Portal uses ASP.NET user controls and the Enterprise Portal framework to display Microsoft Dynamics AX data and reports.
• Enterprise Portal uses Windows Communication Framework (WCF) and .NET Business Connector to interact with an Application Object Server (AOS).