In the classic multitiered J2EE architecture: Tier 1 is the client tier (browsers, desktop apps), Tier 2 is the web server/presentation tier (servlets/JSP), Tier 3 is the business logic tier (EJBs), and Tier 4 is the EIS tier (databases, legacy systems). The browser runs on the client machine, making it the first tier. Tiers represent logical layers, not physical servers.