Client-Server Architecture
This section will discuss in detail the client-server relationship. Examples of both clients and servers are enumerated and described to illustrate the difference between the the two.
The Client Server architecture is basically a type of computer architecture where there are clients and there are servers. The clients are the computers which make requests while the servers are the computers which fulfill the requests. The main idea of the client server model is that the client makes requests while the server acts on the requests made by the client. In today's interconnected world, the client server model is very common. In the field of gaming, business, education, and telecommunications, the client server model is very popular. The internet's main program, the TCP/IP, is also based on a client server model.
An example of the client server architecture is seen in banking. The ATM machine will act as a client and the Bank Accounts System will act as a server. When the ATM makes a request for money, the Accounts System at the bank will fulfill the request if there are enough funds in the user's account. Another example of client server architecture is in gaming. The gamer or the client will make requests for a game while the server or the network administrator will form a game with several gamers.
Below are more examples of servers and of clients.
Examples of Servers
1. An applications server is a kind of server that has several applications that users can access. Applications can be word applications or spreadsheet applications. There are some online application servers nowadays. All you have to do is log on to a certain site and you will be able to use the software.
2. Database servers are servers that store huge amounts of information. Users access the database server to obtain data like addresses, phone numbers, fingerprints, etcetera... Database management is a huge business in the server industry.
3. Communications servers are used for mobile users. If someone wants to connect to another mobile then the communication server is used as an intermediary. With the number of mobile phone users out there, you shouldn't be surprised if the number of communication servers has surpassed a million.
4. Gaming servers are used for online gaming. If you want to participate in an online multiplayer match then you have to go through a game server. The game server facilitates the match between two or more players. Online gaming is very entertaining. You should try it out once in a while so that you are updated on the latest possibilities when it comes to interactive entertainment.
5. Web servers are used for interpreting and displaying web pages in HTML, CSS, XML, and other formats. Browsers request web servers for HTML pages and the like. When you log on to a specific web page, your browser and the web server interact to display the information that you requested.
www.hp.com, the Hewlett Packard Integrity Superdome Servers are one of the high end servers available in the market today. If you want a server that you can rely on then you should certainly get one of the HP servers that are available.
Examples of Clients
1. An employee of a large multinational corporation may have requests like the list of expenses for the month of January or the names of customers with complaints. They can also ask for data such as their number of leaves remaining or their number of absences. Employees make requests to the servers in the company.
2. A student in college certainly needs to do research. Students will have requests from which books to borrow from the library and how long they can borrow these books. They will also know if they have any overdue books or not.
3. Online gamers will need to connect to a game server in order to experience multiplayer games. Gamers all over the world meet online to enjoy the fun of multiplayer gaming. Online multiplayer games have changed the way games are played. It is certainly more pleasurable competing if you know that there is a human being on the other end.
4. Online shoppers who can't get enough of the mall are found shopping on the internet. Sometimes you are able to shop more efficiently when you are on the web. You do not have to walk around, waste gas going to the mall, and expend energy dressing up. These shoppers make requests for detailed images of clothes and purchase using their credit cards right at the comfort of their own home.
5. Mobile phone users use the SMS service or the short messaging service when they want to communicate through text instead of voice. When they send an SMS to another person, they make a request to a server that sends it to the recipient.
Can you think of more examples of servers and clients? There are certainly more examples out there.
