Client/server Computing for Technical Professionals

If you are in the process of building a client/server system, this practical book will give you the information you need to make the right choices, get started, and build the client/server environment that effectively meets your needs. It describes client/server concepts, common applications, design principles, and offers vendor-independent advice on all the major client/server products and technologies. This book explains in clear, readable language how client/server technology works. You will learn about the key components of distributed client/server computing, including distributed files, databases, programming, and graphics systems, as well as Internet client/server systems. All of the major client/server technologies are covered - ONC, X Window System, DCE, World Wide Web, CORBA, NFS, COM, and ODBC - with advice on their unique features, advantages, and disadvantages. You will find the latest information on such topics as Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) and how they differ from Interprocess Communication (IPC) and Local Procedure Calls (LPCs). In addition, the book shows you how to write simple client/server programs. Important standards and their roles in client/server computing are also explained. Numerous sidebar case studies illustrate how all of these concepts, techniques, and applications come together to create client/server systems in a real-world context.