Robert Orfali Dan Harkey Jerry Edwards The Essential Client Server Survival Guide Galgotia Publ

The Essential Client/Server Survival Guide: A Classic Book on Distributed Computing

If you are looking for a comprehensive and entertaining introduction to the world of client/server technology, you should check out The Essential Client/Server Survival Guide by Robert Orfali, Dan Harkey and Jeri Edwards. This book, published by Galgotia Publications in 1996, is a second edition of the award-winning bestseller that covers everything from operating systems and communications, to application architectures that incorporate database, transaction processing, groupware and objects, to the Internet and the World Wide Web and their role in the new generation of client/server and object management.

Robert Orfali Dan Harkey Jerry Edwards The Essential Client Server Survival Guide Galgotia Publ

The authors combine detailed technical explanations with their unique brand of offbeat humor, using clever cartoons, controversial soapboxes, and witty quotes to inform, educate, and entertain. They also provide practical advice on how to choose and implement the best client/server solutions for your organization. Whether you are a manager, a developer, a student, or a curious reader, you will find this book an invaluable source of information and insight into the client/server paradigm.

Some of the topics covered in this book include:

• The big picture of client/server computing and its benefits and challenges.

• The concepts and terminology of client/server architecture and distributed computing.

• The building blocks of client/server systems, such as operating systems, networks, protocols, middleware, databases, TP monitors, groupware servers, object servers, and web servers.

• The different types of clients and servers, such as fat clients, thin clients, smart clients, dumb servers, intelligent servers, and hybrid servers.

• The design principles and patterns for developing client/server applications that are scalable, reliable, secure, and user-friendly.

• The emerging trends and technologies in client/server computing, such as distributed objects (CORBA, DCOM), Java, web-based applications (CGI, ASP), data warehousing, workflow management, and internet/intranet integration.

The Essential Client/Server Survival Guide is not only a great reference book but also a fun read that will keep you engaged and entertained. It is one of those rare books that can appeal to both beginners and experts alike. If you want to learn more about client/server technology or refresh your knowledge on this topic, you should definitely get a copy of this book. You can find it online at Amazon.com or at your local bookstore.

In this section, we will review some of the key concepts and terms that are essential for understanding client/server computing. We will also introduce some of the major players and products in the client/server market. By the end of this section, you should have a clear idea of what client/server is and why it is important.

What is Client/Server?

Client/server is a style of computing that involves two or more computers that communicate and cooperate with each other to perform a task. The computers are usually connected by a network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet. The computers can be of different types and sizes, such as personal computers (PCs), workstations, mainframes, or supercomputers.

In a client/server system, one or more computers act as clients, and one or more computers act as servers. A client is a computer that requests a service from another computer. A server is a computer that provides a service to another computer. A service can be anything that a computer can do, such as storing data, processing transactions, sending messages, executing commands, or displaying graphics.

For example, when you use a web browser to access a web page, your browser is acting as a client and the web server that hosts the web page is acting as a server. The browser sends a request to the web server for the web page, and the web server sends back the web page to the browser. The browser then displays the web page on your screen.

Why Client/Server?

Client/server computing has many advantages over other styles of computing, such as centralized computing or standalone computing. Some of these advantages are:

• Scalability: Client/server systems can handle more users and more data by adding more clients or servers as needed. This allows the system to grow with the demand without requiring major changes or upgrades.

• Reliability: Client/server systems can tolerate failures and errors by having backup servers or redundant components. This ensures that the system can continue to operate even if some parts fail or malfunction.

• Security: Client/server systems can protect sensitive data and resources by using encryption, authentication, authorization, and auditing mechanisms. This prevents unauthorized access or modification of data and resources by malicious users or hackers.

• User-friendliness: Client/server systems can provide better user interfaces and user experiences by using graphical user interfaces (GUIs), multimedia, interactivity, and personalization features. This makes the system easier and more enjoyable to use by the end users.

• Flexibility: Client/server systems can support different types of applications and services by using different types of clients and servers. This allows the system to adapt to changing needs and requirements without compromising performance or functionality.

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