The Business Central deployment includes three core components for serving the application to users. It also includes various tools and components for managing, developing, extending, and testing the application.
Multi-Tier System Topology
To understand the components is useful to first look at the base topology of a Business Central deployment, as illustrated in the following diagram:
Components
Main components
Every deployment must include the core components: Web server, Server, and SQL Database.
Component
Description
More Information
SQL Database
A SQL database (SQL Server, SQL Server on Azure VM, Azure SQL Managed Instance, or Azure SQL Database) that contains application object definitions and business data. In a multitenant deployment, the application and business data are separated into different databases. In this case, a single application database can be associated with one or more tenants where the tenant database contains the business data.
Business Central Server is a .NET-based Microsoft service application that uses Windows Communication Framework to handle communication between clients and databases. It controls authentication, event logging, scheduled tasks, reporting, and more.
An Internet Information Server (IIS) web site, provisioned with the Business Central Web Server components, that enables access from the Business Central Web client and mobile apps.
SOAP and OData Web Services for exposing application functionality to external systems and users. Developers can create and publish functionality as web services. They expose pages, codeunits, or queries, and even enhance a page web service by using an extension codeunit.
Windows PowerShell modules for managing the deployment, including tasks such adding and configuring Business Central Server and Web server instances, databases, and users, and administering extension packages.
A database that contains application objects and sample business data for demonstration purposes.
Dynamics NAV Development Environment
The C/SIDE client that was available in Business Central for developing applications using C/AL. In Business Central, this component is only required for doing upgrades but you can still use it to develop applications.
Windows PowerShell modules for merging and modifying application object files and creating extension packages. Installed with the Dynamics NAV Development Environment.
Windows Desktop application for accessing Business Central.
DISCONTINUED AFTER: Business Central Spring 2019
Microsoft Outlook Integration
A Business Central Server component for integrating with Microsoft Outlook.
DISCONTINUED AFTER: Business Central Spring 2019
Microsoft Outlook Add-in
A component to synchronize data, such as to-dos, contacts, and tasks, between Business Central and Outlook. The Outlook Add-In uses Business Central web services.
DISCONTINUED AFTER: Business Central 2020 Release Wave 1
Microsoft Excel Add-in
A component that enables users to export data from Business Central to Excel.
DISCONTINUED AFTER: Business Central Spring 2019
Excel Add-in
A component that enables users to export data from Business Central to Excel.
A server component that executes business logic without a user interface or user interaction. NAS services in Business Central Server support applications such as Microsoft Outlook Integration and the Job Queue.
Instead of using NAS services, we recommend that you use the Task Scheduler (see Task Scheduler. If you decide to use NAS, and want to read more about its configuration, see Configuring NAS Services in the Dev and IT Pro Help for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018.
Are you new to Business Central? If you are, this path will help you get started. It discusses how to create new companies, implement security, migrate data from other systems, and integrate Outlook with Business Central.
