Client Server Architecture

2.]2.
1 Cilent Server Architecture

The eoncept of the client/server processing has emerged as a
higher level of shared device processing typically found in local
area networks (LANs). In a shared-device LAN processing envi
ronment, PCs are attached to a system device that allows them to
share a common resource--a file on a hard disk and printer are
typical examples (See Figure 2.14), In LAN terminology, such
shared devices are called servers. In a typical LAN based shared
device processing, these PCrequests are usually limited to ser
vices related to shared files or print processing.JFor example, a
common file can be read by several PCs, and some report pages
can be sent by multiple PCs to the same printer. The obvíous
drawback of such an approach is that all application processing is
performed on individual PCs and only certain functions (print,
file I/O) are distributed. Therefore, an entire file has to be sent to
a PCthat issues a READ request against this file. If file has to be
updated, the entire file is locked by that PC that issued the update
request. Examples of shared device processing that allow a local
area network to have a system dedicated exclusively to the file
and/or print services are Novel's NetWare and Microsoft's LAN
Manager.
CLIENT
CLIENT CLIENT
LAN
or
WAN
SERVER
Appl.
DATA LINE PRINTER

STORAGE
Figure 2.14 Client/server processing environment

The client/server processing concept is an extension of shared
device processing. A local area networks grew in size and num
ber of supported workstations including file server and print
server. Gradually, these servers became capable of serving large
numbers of workstations. At the same time, the role of the work
stations was also changing-the workstations were becoming ci
ents of the servers. The main reason for the change was that in a
large LANenvironment, sharing of file ond print services among
the workstations in a LAN group represented only a fraction of
typical application. The significant part of the application func
tionality was also a good candidate for sharing among LAN
users. Therefore, some of the application processing was
distributed to anew server-the server that receives requests
(rom applications running on workstation (clients) and processes
them for each of its clients. In this concept, application processing
divided between the clieht and server. The processing is
actually initiated and partially controlled by the service
requester-client. Both client and server cooperate to success
fully execute an application. Database server such as Sybase or
the Microsoft SQL servers are examples of the client/server
processing environment.
Advantages
The following benefits accrue in adopting client/server architec
ture.
It allows corporations to leverage emerging desktop comput
ing technology better. Today's workstations deliver conside
able computing power, previously available only from
mainframes, at a fraction of the cost of inainframes.
It allows the processing to reside close to the source of data
being processed. Therefore, network traffic can be greatly
reduced, and effective throughput and carrying capacity on
heavily loaded network increased.
It facilitates the use of graphical user interface (GUI) available
on powerful workstations, These new interfaces can be deliv
ered to customers in a variety of visual presentation tech
niques.
It allows the acceptance of open systems. The fact that clients
and servers can be running on different hardware and soft
ware platforms. It allows the end users to free themselves
from particular proprietary architectures, thus taking
economical, marketing, and competitive advantage of the
open market of available products.
Disadvantages
If a significant portion of application logic is moved to a
server, the server may become a bottleneck in the processing
and distribution of data to the clients.
Server's limited resources will be in ever-increasing demand
by the increasing number of resource consumers.

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2.]2.

1 Cilent Server Architecture

DATA LINE PRINTER

Figure 2.14 Client/server processing environment

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