The Advantages of Client Server
A client-server architecture is one in which the main operating software sits on a server machine, while client machines connect to it for the sole process of delivering and receiving information. This architecture reduces the load on the client machines to a minimum and passes the tasks of processing off onto the server. While not all systems are like this, there are advantages to this type of system for certain tasks.
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Features
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The functionality of a client-server architecture allows it to hand off computational requirements from the client machines to the server machine. The client machines themselves have little power or computing requirements and can be cheaply produced and equipped.
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History
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The client-server architecture has been around for decades, and was, in fact, the first type of computer that was put into use. For example, before the Internet, client machines were often located in offices throughout a building and were all connected to a central server machine. The clients would send requests to the central server, which would process the tasks, and notify the client machines that the task was completed. A modern parallel of this type of architecture is the Internet. Home computers connect to a web server, which processes their request for a web page, and sends the appropriate information back to the clients.
Misconceptions
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A common misconception about a client-server architecture is that the client machine has no operating power whatsoever. This is incorrect, since the client machine must have capabilities to both send and receive information from the server. The types of applications that run on client machines, however, are minimal compared to those that run on the server.
Benefits
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Offloading data processing tasks to a centralized system is advantageous in certain situations where costs may be a concern. Having one central machine that is able to perform complex tasks can be cheaper than equipping multiple machines with the same capabilities. A client-server model also helps make data more secure in sensitive occupations, since the data is always physically located on the server, and is merely displayed on the client machines.
Potential
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The client-server model of computing is widely in use and has a large potential for growth. Organizations, such as hospitals, have begun to use the client-server model for employees to access and update records from hand-held devices, without needing to equip the devices with a large amount of memory or processing power.
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References
- Photo Credit "Disfruta el silencio" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: juanpol (Juan Pablo Olmo) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
