Data Storage and Data

Processing Architectures
Reff : Data Management
Databases and Organizations
Richard T. Watson
Architectures
Personal database
Local storage and processing
Advantages
Personal computers are cheap
Greater control
Desktop OS makes PC easier to use
PC users have an extensive choice of user friendly software
Disadvantages
Replication of applications and data
Difficult to share data
Security and integrity are lower
Disposable systems
Misdirection of attention and resources
Remote job entry
Local storage, remote processing
Useful when a personal computer is :
too slow
has insufficient memory
software is not available
Local storage is used for several reasons :
often cheaper (if management charge for storage space in
remote terminal)
user still can do some local processing & data preparation
such as data entry, validation & reporting
user may feel that local storage is more secure for
particularly sensitive data
Host/terminal
Remote storage and processing
Associated with mainframe computers
All shared resources are managed by the
host (server)
Host/terminal
Terminals have minimal processing capability and are used to
display data and may do some limited formatting
DC (Data Communications) manager handles the transfer of
data between application programs and terminals
A brief overview of LAN
LAN connects computers within the same
limited geographic area
Permits sharing of devices & data
LAN basic components include network
cabling, network interface card, a file server
for storing shared data, a network OS
A server is a computer that provides and
controls access to a shareable resource
File/server
A file/server is a LAN computer with a large
disk storage
Files are stored on a file/server
Data is processing on users PC
Entire files are transmitted on the LAN
Can result in heavy LAN traffic
File is locked when retrieved for update
Limited to small files and low demand
File/server
DBMS/server
A server runs a DBMS
Only necessary records are transmitted on the
LAN
Less LAN traffic than file/server
Back-end program on the server handles
retrieval
Front-end program on the client handles
processing and presentation
More sharing of processing than file/server
DBMS/server
Client/server fundamentals
File/server and DBMS/server are examples of
client/server, in which two processes interact : the client
process initiates requests and the server responds
Client/server aims to take advantage of the lower
processing costs of microcomputer technology
Client is typically a desktop computer and the server is a
more powerful machine
Processing is split between the client and the server, with
most of the processing performed by the client
Savings
Ease of use / fewer errors
Less training
Client/Server - 2nd Generation
Three-tier model
Clients
perform presentation functions, manage the GUI,
and execute communcication software that provide
network access
Application servers
the majority of the business and data logic are
processed here
Data servers
provide support for relational and other DBMSs,
also provide backup + recovery services, and
transaction management control
Thick and thin clients
Type of client Thick Thin
Technology LAN Web
Application logic Mostly on the
client
Mostly on the server
Network load Medium Low
Data storage Server Server
Server intelligence Medium High
Advantages of the
three-tier model
Security is higher because logic is on
the server
Performance is better
Access to legacy systems and a variety
of databases
Easier to implement and maintain
Evolution of client/server
computing
Architecture Description
Two-tier Processing is split between client and server,
which also runs the DBMS.
Three-tier Client does presentation, processing is done by
the server, and the DBMS is on a separate server.
N-tier Client does presentation. Processing and DBMS
can be spread across multiple servers. This is a
distributed resources environment.