Client/Server-Based Networking

A client/server network consists of a group of user-oriented PCs (called clients) that issue requests to a server. The client PC is responsible for issuing requests for services to be rendered. The server's  function on the network is to service these requests. Servers generally are higher-performance systems that are optimized to provide network services to other PCs. The server machine often has a faster CPU, more memory, and more disk space than a typical client machine. Some examples of client/server-based networks are Novell NetWare, Windows NT Server, and Banyan Vines. Some common server types include  servers, mail servers, print servers, fax servers, and application servers. In a client/server network, the server machines often are not even set up to do the tasks that a client machine can do. a Novell or Banyan server, for example, a person cannot run a spreadsheet from the server console. Other systems, such as Windows NT and UNIX machines, enable a person to do this even though it is not the intended use of the system). Eating at a restaurant is analogous to a client/server model. You, the customer, are a client. You issue requests for meals, drinks, and dessert. The waiter is the server. It is the waiter's job to service those requests. Although this discussion should have made it clear how they differ, people often confuse mainframe computing with a client/server- based network. The two approaches to computing are not the same, however. In mainframe computing, the dumb terminal does not process any requests. It simply acts as an interface to receive input and to display output. Only the mainframe computer can process  information. In a client/server model, the client PC can process information, but certain services are of?oaded to the server machine. The server machine's role is simply to process the requests made for these services by the client. In short, a client/server-based network is one in which certain tasks run on and utilize the resources of one machine while others utilize another machine, each according to its functional role. An example of a client/server system is Microsoft Exchange Server. Your PC is responsible for constructing and displaying email messages, to name a couple of the possible tasks. The Exchange server is responsible for delivering outgoing email and for receiving email intended for you. In summary, the client/server model is a network in which the role of the client is to issue requests and the role of the server is to service requests.