Modeling a computing architecture

1. A method for modeling a computing architecture, the method executed on a computer, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of computing layers, each computing layer representing a functional layer of the computing architecture;

identifying a plurality of computing systems;

identifying, for each of the plurality of computing systems, at least one of the plurality of computing layers that is implemented by the computing system;

displaying a first plurality of bars in stacked relationship to each other, each of the first plurality of bars representing a computing layer of the plurality of computing layers;

displaying a second plurality of bars approximately orthogonal to the first plurality of bars and over at least a portion of the first plurality of bars, each of the second plurality of bars representing a computing system, wherein each of the second plurality of bars extends through a portion of the first plurality of bars an amount corresponding to the identified at least one of the computing layers that is implemented by the computing system represented by the bar; and

displaying a selected one of the first plurality of bars larger than the other bars for displaying details within the selected bar.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising if the computing architecture comprises a human interface portal, displaying a first rectangle stacked adjacent to the first plurality of bars, the first rectangle representing a human interface portal.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

if the computing architecture comprises a business to business integration, displaying a second rectangle stacked adjacent to the first plurality of bars, the second rectangle representing a business to business integration.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising displaying an icon to indicate a preselected area of the computing architecture.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a data store of the computing architecture; and

displaying an icon to represent the identified data store.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

identifying a computing system corresponding to the data store; and

displaying the data store proximate a bar corresponding to the data store.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a plurality of data stores;

identifying interconnections between the plurality of data stores;

displaying each of the plurality of data stores as an icon; and

displaying line interconnecting the icons, the lines representing the identified interconnections between the plurality of data stores.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising identifying computing systems having a predefined computing function and displaying an icon to represent the predefined computing function.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein displaying a first plurality of bars comprises displaying, from top to bottom, a horizontal bar for each of a presentation layer, a business logic layer, a data layer, and an infrastructure layer.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising displaying a conduit within one of the first plurality of bars, the conduit representing communication links between computing systems.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a computing system of the computing architecture;

displaying a first plurality of bars in stacked relationship to each other, each of the first plurality of bars representing a computing layer comprised in the selected computing system; and

displaying a second plurality of bars approximately orthogonal to the first plurality of bars and over at least a portion of the first plurality of bars, each of the second plurality of bars representing a sub-system of the selected computing system, wherein each of the second plurality of bars extends through a portion of the first plurality of bars an amount corresponding to the identified at least one of the computing layers that is implemented by the sub-system of the selected computing system represented by the bar.

12. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for modeling a computing architecture, the instructions, when executed on a processor, causing the processor to perform the following:

identifying a plurality of computing layers, each computing layer representing a functional layer of the computing architecture;

identifying a plurality of computing systems;

identifying, for each of the plurality of computing systems, at least one of the plurality of computing layers that is implemented by the computing system;

displaying a first plurality of bars in stacked relationship to each other, each of the first plurality of bars representing a computing layer of the plurality of computing layers;

displaying a second plurality of bars approximately orthogonal to the first plurality of bars and over at least a portion of the first plurality of bars, each of the second plurality of bars representing a computing system, wherein each of the second plurality of bars extends through a portion of the first plurality of bars an amount corresponding to the identified at least one of the computing layers that is implemented by the computing system represented by the bar;

identifying a data store of the computing architecture; and

displaying an icon to represent the identified data store.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform:

if the computing architecture comprises a human interface portal, displaying a first rectangle stacked adjacent to the first plurality of bars, the first rectangle representing a human interface portal.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform:

if the computing architecture comprises a business to business integration, displaying a second rectangle stacked adjacent to the first plurality of bars, the second rectangle representing a business to business integration.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform displaying an icon to indicate a preselected area of the computing architecture.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform:

identifying a computing system corresponding to the data store; and

displaying the data store proximate a bar corresponding to the data store.

17. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform:

identifying a plurality of data stores;

identifying interconnections between the plurality of data stores;

displaying each of the plurality of data stores as an icon; and

displaying line interconnecting the icons, the lines representing the identified interconnections between the plurality of data stores.

18. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform identifying computing systems having a predefined computing function and displaying an icon to represent the predefined computing function.

19. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12 , wherein displaying a first plurality of bars comprises displaying, from top to bottom, a horizontal bar for each of a presentation layer, a business logic layer, a data layer, and an infrastructure layer.

20. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for modeling a computing architecture, the instructions, when executed on a processor, causing the processor to perform the following:

identifying a plurality of computing layers, each computing layer representing a functional layer of the computing architecture;

identifying a plurality of computing systems;

identifying, for each of the plurality of computing systems, at least one of the plurality of computing layers that is implemented by the computing system;

displaying a first plurality of bars in stacked relationship to each other, each of the first plurality of bars representing a computing layer of the plurality of computing layers;

displaying a second plurality of bars approximately orthogonal to the first plurality of bars and over at least a portion of the first plurality of bars, each of the second plurality of bars representing a computing system, wherein each of the second plurality of bars extends through a portion of the first plurality of bars an amount corresponding to the identified at least one of the computing layers that is implemented by the computing system represented by the bar; and displaying a selected one of the first plurality of bars larger than the other bars for displaying details within the selected bar.

21. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform displaying a conduit within one of the first plurality of bars, the conduit representing communication links between computing systems.

22. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform:

receiving a selection of a computing system of the computing architecture;

displaying a first plurality of bars in stacked relationship to each other, each of the first plurality of bars representing a computing layer comprised in the selected computing system; and

displaying a second plurality of bars approximately orthogonal to the first plurality of bars and over at least a portion of the first plurality of bars, each of the second plurality of bars representing a sub-system of the selected computing system, wherein each of the second plurality of bars extends through a portion of the first plurality of bars an amount corresponding to the identified at least one of the computing layers that is implemented by the sub-system of the selected computing system represented by the bar.