SharePoint 2013 Streamlined Architecture

Based on “Streamlined Topologies for SharePoint Server 2013” diagram from Microsoft (“Topology design guidance for maximizing system resources”), 

Simplified for 4-servers high-available 3-tier farms:

  Services

Front-End Servers

Service applications, services, and components that serve user requests directly are placed on front-end servers. These servers are optimized for fast performance.

Low and Very low latency.
  • Access
  • BDC
  • Cache
  • MMS
  • Secure Store
  • State 
  • Subscription Settings
  • UPSA
  • User Code
  • Visio
  • Excel Calculation
  • Performance Point
  • Project
  • Search Query
  • Web Application/CA

Batch-Processing Servers

Service applications, services, and components that process background tasks are placed on a middle-tier of servers referred to as batch processing servers. These servers are optimized to maximize system resources. These servers can tolerate greater loads because these tasks do not affect performance observed by user
  • UPSA Sync
  • Workflow Timer Service
  • Machine Translation
  • Word Automation
  • Work Management
  • Search Crawl Target (Web Application)
  • Search Crawl/Analytics
  • PowerPoint conversion