* A practical, nuts--and--bolts guide to architectural solutions that describes step--by--step how to design robustness and flexibility into an Internet--based system* Based on real--world problems and systems, and illustrated with a running case study* Enables software architects and project managers to ensure that nonfunctional requirements are met so that the system wona t fall over, that it can be maintained and upgraded without being switched off, and that it can deal with security, scalability, and performance demands* Platform and vendor independence will empower architects to challenge product--dictated limitations