How to Build Client Server Applications With VB.NET

A client-server application is software that runs on a desktop and interacts with a server component on a separate computer. The server component contains a service that stores the information in a database and shares it with each client computer. You must consider several network components and options before choosing to develop a client-server application in the .NET Framework.

Instructions

1. Install the .NET Framework on the server computer. Before you can run server applications, you must install the .NET Framework on the machine. The version of .NET you install on the server must match the version you use to create the application.

2. Develop a client login form. To protect data saved on a network, you must create a client login form. The client logs in and obtains access to the company data. You can use internal Windows authentication or use customized forms and authentication.

3. Choose the computer that acts as the database server. Some companies prefer to keep data on another computer. Therefore, you must create the server and client software to "speak" to a database server. Some choices for database applications are MySQL, SQL Server or Oracle. Since .NET is a Microsoft platform, SQL Server is the best option for a database server.

4. Create a business rules plan for the application. Business rules determine the algorithms and functions for the application. For instance, the business needs to save customer information, and customer service needs to edit customer data. This helps you determine how to develop the application and create the desktop forms.

5. Determine if you want a desktop application or web browser based software. Users can use a web browser to access the application, which makes it easier to implement since operating system and computer specifications are not important. Desktop applications install on the Windows desktop, and versions need consideration.

References

• Toasty Tech: Client / Server Applications