An integration server is a computer server used to facilitate interaction between a diverse operating system and application across internal and external networked computer systems. An enterprise integration server may include prepackaged applications, customized applications, and legacy applications. Typically, an integration server has one of two architectures: the hub-and-spoke model or the network-centric bus model, also called the message-bus model.
The integration server manages all communication, data translation, and process interactions among the connected operating systems and applications. When a new operating system or application is connected, it is automatically integrated with all other systems. The hub-and-spoke model is better for companies with limited information technology (IT) resources with only a handful of systems handling a moderate volume of transactions.