Client – Server Architecture

A Basic Introduction
Kathleen R. Murray, Ph.D.
May 2002
Client Server Architecture
• A network
architecture in which
each computer or
process on the
network is either a
client or a server.

Source: http://webopedia.lycos.com

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 Components

• Clients
• Servers
• Communication Networks

Server

Client
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 Clients

• Applications that run on computers

• Rely on servers for
– Files Clients are Applications

– Devices
– Processing power
• Example: E-mail client
– An application that enables you to send
and receive e-mail
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 Servers

• Computers or processes that manage

network resources Servers Manage
– Disk drives (file servers) Resources
– Printers (print servers)
– Network traffic (network servers)
• Example: Database Server
– A computer system that processes
database queries
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Communication Networks

Networks Connect
Clients and
Servers

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 Client–Server Computing
• Process takes place
– on the server and Client-Server
– on the client Computing Optimizes
• Servers Computing Resources
– Store and protect data
– Process requests from clients
• Clients
– Make requests
– Format data on the desktop

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 Application Functions

• Software application
functions are separated
into three distinct parts

Server:
Data Management

Client: Presentation & Application Logic

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 Application Components

3 Data Management 2 Client Types

2 Application Logic
Fat
Thin Client
1 Presentation Client

3 Logical Tiers

Database Applications:
Most common use of client-server architectures

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 Middleware
• Software that connects two
otherwise separate applications Database Server:
• Example: Middleware product Manages Data
linking a database system to a
Web server Middleware Links
Applications

Web Server:
Presents Dynamic Pages

Client: Requests Data via Web

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 Types of Servers
From A to Z

• Application Servers • List Servers

• Audio/Video Servers • Mail Servers
• Chat Servers • News Servers
• Fax Servers • Proxy Servers
• FTP Servers • Telnet Servers
• Groupware Servers • Web Servers
• IRC Servers • Z39.50 Servers

Source: http://webopedia.lycos.com
May 2002 UNT Center for Digital Knowledge 11
 Learn more about
Z39.50 client - server
Thanks!

applications by
viewing the tutorial!

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