The evolution of SharePoint 2010 has been revolutionary, there were so many new features, capabilities, development changes and architectural enhancements to 2010 when compared with 2007. So with 2013 released we should not be expecting a completely new architecture as most of its architecture is inherited from 2010. Microsoft has always channeled its efforts in making SharePoint a self-service product, heavily encouraging on no-code solutions, using browser and office applications for business needs. So 2013 has some architectural enhancements to support the above and also making SharePoint a better product. This blog post with summarize major enhancements and the related posts would explain each in detail.
- Database improvements – Contributes to faster & efficient data retrieval
As Microsoft keeps improving SQL Server version by version, adding more features/ functionality, SharePoint can leverage such enhancements and make it more even powerful in terms of data storage, search and retrieval.
The following can be treated as highlights of the database enhancements
1. Shredded Storage
As the name indicates files are shredded and stored in the content database. Once the user requests a file all the bits and pieces are combined and shown as a single file. So when a file has multiple versions, only the changes on that file are saved to the content database instead of the entire file being saved repeatedly. So no more storing of the entire file, version after version, as it has always been in SharePoint 2007/2010. This would be faster, reduces the amount of space occupied in the content database and also saves on network bandwidth.
2. The database is Microsoft SQL Azure compliant
If you wish to host SharePoint 2013 on the cloud the SQL Server database is all set for this. This is quite important to those organization which plan to host their sites on cloud as the new features include Updates to throttling behavior, New event table for trouble shooting, Recursive triggers are supported etc.
3. Cleaned up databases – Both config and content databases
Redundant and unused tables are removed and this would clearly enhance the database performance when queried.
4. Better design
The SQL Server has an improved schema to support ‘Shredded Storage’ which reduces the input and output operations while using document libraries. - Request Management
SharePoint 2013 ships with request management which is designed for ‘Throttling & Routing’, ‘Prioritization’ and ‘Load Balancing’. Please DO NOT consider this as a replacement of ‘Load Balancer’ or ‘Traffic Mangers’ and as a matter of fact your organization MAY NOT require this at all. If you chose to use this make sure you understand the capabilities and if that’s the right choice for the problem. ‘Request Management’ is just a service instance that run on WFEs (Web Front End server which runs SharePoint Foundation Web Application Service (SPFWA)). This service understands SharePoint and can route requests at the ‘Web Application’ level and this is the key advantage of Request Management. - Workflow enhancements
SharePoint Server 2013 brings a major advancement to workflow: enterprise features such as fully declarative authoring, REST and Service Bus messaging, elastic scalability, and managed service reliability.SharePoint Server 2013 can use a new workflow service built on the Windows Workflow Foundation components of the .NET Framework 4.5. This new service is called Workflow Manager and it is designed to play a central role in the enterprise. More on this can be found at What’s new in workflow in SharePoint Server 2013>> - Cache Service improvements
The cache service improvements plays an important factor in building high-performance and scalable applications. In SharePoint 2010 each server has its own cache which is used only if the request comes to that server and so when a request come to a different server the whole information has to be recreated. But SharePoint 2013 introduces Distributed Cache Service (DCS) which is based on the Windows Server AppFabric 1.1. AppFabric Caching stores serialized managed objects in a cache cluster which can be used by all the server to serve the request. This pooled memory is presented to cache clients as a single source of caching memory.
- Minimal Download Strategy
In SharePoint 2010, when a user requests a page or makes changes to it, the whole page is downloaded. But in SharePoint 2013 only changed portions of the page are downloaded using Ajax Delta control which is added to the head section of the master page. - The Theme Engine
Themes in SharePoint 2013 are HTML5 compatible and the format is not based on Office Open XML format as in SharePoint 2010. So in SharePoint 2010 you can create new themes using office applications which you can no longer do it in 2013,but you would use browser to preview and publish new themes. - Mobile Device support in SharePoint 2013
SharePoint 2013 content is created and delivered based of location aware technique which detects the user-agent and servers the content. So lists are location aware and optimized for mobile delivery. So there are multiple views for enhanced mobile experiences such as Contemporary view (for HTML5 supported browsers), Classic View (for backward compatibility for SharePoint 2010), Full Screen view (for full desktop view on mobile device). - Deprecated browser support and more supported browser
Internet explorer 6 and 7 are still supported for content rendering but cannot be used for content authoring, so WCM authors can use IE 8 & above for full support. Other browsers like Chrome, Mozilla FireFox, Apple Safari offer limited support.
- New, deprecated and modified/improved service applications
This sections provides very brief explanation of the service applications, detailed description is out of scope of this post, but will be covered in later with in SharePoint 2013 blogs
1. )New service applications
The following service applications are added to SharePoint 2013
– Machine Translation
– Work Management
– App Management.
2.) Modified/improved Service Applications
The following applications are improved in 2013
– SSA (Search Service Application)
– MMS (Managed Meta Data Service Application),
– BCS (Business Connectivity Services),
– User Profile Service application
– Microsoft SharePoint Foundation Subscription Settings Service
– Access Service Application which is split into 2 services.
a.) ‘Access Services 2010‘
b.) ‘Access Services‘ for 2013 only.
3.) Deprecated Service Applications
The following service application are not totally deprecated but served as a different way such a isolating as a separate product or service on server etc.
– ‘Office Web Apps’ is no longer a service applications and is packaged as a separate service product.
– ‘Web Analytics’ is no longer a service application but is part and parcel of SharePoint search engine.
– ‘Power Point Automation Service’ is no longer a service applications but can be started using ‘Service On Server’ page in SharePoint. - Web Application and Site Collection improvements
Microsoft now recommends using Claims based authentication by default and also use Hosted Named Site Collections. With HNSC each site collections can be accessed using its own top-level URL even though they originate from the same content database. - SharePoint 2013 development changes
1. ) SharePoint Apps – Any hosting services to run and deploy your app
This is something new to SharePoint and also its developer community. The concept is old and is similar to how we have apps hosted in Android market, Microsoft or Apple’s app store. They are all apps & everything in there is an app. This is direction the ‘Apps for SharePoint’ is going even faster. Apps are easier to integrate with cloud services, Office suite and has even better platform for distribution. In spite of all this complex technical evolution of apps, as always Microsoft provided easier options to create apps as web applications using HTML, JavaScript or using server side programming languages like C#, VB.NET or PHP. Now the developer
2.) Extended Client-Object Model
This would enable custom code can be created by using a similar apps model
3.) Alternative choice to Sandbox solution
Microsoft still continues to support farm solutions, but there are not major enhancements to Sandbox solutions and recommends using App instead of Sandbox solution. Now the choice would be either Farm solution or App instead of Farm solution or a Sandbox solution.Details explanation to each of the enhancements would be covered in other articles under SharePoint 2013 category.
References:
- TechNet Microsoft
- Book – Exploring Microsoft SharePoint 2013 by Penelope Coventry
– This is one of the best technical books I have ever read, the author has outstanding knowledge in the subject. I totally recommend reading this book. I would give total credit, even this blog post for the author