UML Deployment Diagram

Introduction to UML Deployment Diagram

In this topic, we are going to discuss UML Deployment Diagram. However, before taking our discussion on the topic of the UML deployment diagram, we will first like to give a brief about UML. UML Deployment diagrams generally consist of a set of nodes (here nodes means inter-connected systems or devices) and these nodes are interconnected to each other. These nodes are physical entities where are the components deployed. Deployment Diagrams help us to greatly visualize the overall deployment view of a particular system. Also, from our discussion, it is clear that all diagrams are inter-related and they are dependent on each other. Similarly, the UML deployment diagram depends upon the components which are in turn used for making components diagram.

Purpose of Deployment Diagrams

Now let us discuss the purpose of deployment diagrams.

The term deployment in the deployment diagram itself specifies the role of this diagram. It is used for describing hardware components where the software components are actually deployed. UML is generally used to describe software artifacts of a system. However, UML deployment diagrams are a special case of UML diagram where the main emphasis is on the hardware topology ( here topology means layout ) of the system.

The Main Purpose of the Deployment Diagram

• To represent the hardware topology of a system.
• Represent how different hardware components are inter-connected and how these hardware components are used to deploy software components.

Symbols and Components

Let us first understand two basic terms which we will be using frequently is (Symbols and Components).

Symbols

UML deployment diagram symbols represent a node, object, node instance, component instance ( here component instance means a replica or copy of component ), interface, etc. These symbols help us to create an accurate diagram for documentation.

A similar image which could be referred to

Components

Components represent different hardware nodes in which software resides.

Note, it is symbols that connect different components and help us to make a good UML deployment diagram.

How to Draw a Deployment Diagram?

This is one of the most important sections of this article as we are going to discuss how we can draw a deployment diagram. The most important component of a deployment diagram is nodes. Nodes are simply the physical hardware that is used to deploy the application. An efficient and good deployment diagram is very important as it covers the following important aspects. These important aspects are as follows:

• Maintainability: The system designed should be easily maintainable.
• Portability: The system should be designed in such a way that it is easy to implement new changes.
• Performance: The system should have high performance.
• Scalability: The system should be flexible enough so that it could be easily expanded.

Before, making a deployment diagram two important artifacts must be identified and should be understood properly, and these two important artifacts are nodes and how these nodes are interconnected

Let us understand this with a simple example.

Example

Let us prepare a simple deployment diagram that consists of the following components.

1. Server.
2. Modem.
3. Router.
4. User nodes like mobile, printer, etc.

This example is assumed to be a web-based simple application that is hosted in a clustered environment using participated servers, a user node like mobile will connect our application using internet through modem and routers.

A simple deployment diagram considering all the above-mentioned points for all this will be.

Now, we can assume that we can make a simple deployment diagram. Let’s do a discussion on our next topic which is where can we use deployment diagrams.

Where to Use UML Deployment Diagrams?

Deployment diagrams are mainly consumed by system engineers. These diagrams help us to describe the physical components like hardware involved, participant nodes, their distribution and how they are inter-connected Deployment diagrams could be assumed as the hardware components where the software components reside.

Deployment Diagrams can be used for the following cases:

• To visualize the hardware topology of a system.
• To represent the hardware details of a system.
• To represent the hardware details of a distributed application.
• & many more…

Conclusion

UML deployment diagram is very important as it not only helps us to visualize but also helps us to understand better the whole system. A simple and efficient UML deployment diagram greatly helps us to make a visual diagram of how these hardware components are inter-linked, what is the relation between each hardware component, how the software resides in these hardware components. Also, there are other types of UML diagrams that are important to understand for the efficient making of the systems.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to UML Deployment Diagram Here we discuss the purpose of the deployment diagram, how to draw a deployment diagram, where to use UML, symbols, and components with diagrams. You can also go through our other related articles to learn more-

1. UML Use Case Diagram
2. Types of UML Diagrams
3. UML Diagram Softwares
4. UML Component Diagram