UML Modeling Techniques > System architecture modeling > Key items > Subsystem
  
Subsystem
The subsystem contains components providing a common service. It has a boundary to which items can connect. You drag items inside the subsystem boundary, resize it to contain all of your required diagram items or group a set of related subsystems together with a frame box.
When you resize your subsystem, items retain their positions relative to the top and left boundary. As you drag the subsystem boundary two nested outlines represent your new subsystem, the outer one shows its perimeter, an inner one the position of contained items.
Use the icon on the System Architecture Diagram toolbar to add a subsystem to the diagram, or drag a subsystem from the dictionary. Change the properties of a subsystem through the Property pages or the context menu.
Use the icon on the System Architecture Diagram tool bar to link items to a subsystem.
Subsystems can be the initial building blocks for State Diagrams and Activity Diagrams in the System Modes Model. You can link the subsystem to the diagram type, creating a new diagram which describes the subsystem.