Chapter 4 Client Server Model

Transport protocols (such as TCP/IP) only provide mechanisms to transfer data. Application programs use these mechanisms to provide various functionalities, such as electronic mail, file transfer, and network games. Many application programs use the clientserver paradigm for interaction through the networks. Client-Server Paradigm
An application is composed of a server program and a client program. These two programs communicate through networks.

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 Remark The server program is often called server for brevity; a server is a piece of software, not some hardware. The client program is also called client for brevity. The computer on which the server program is executed is called server computer. Server Program It is a program designed for providing a particular service. When the server computer boots up, the server program is usually invoked automatically, i.e., the service is always available. It waits passively for clients' requests. Upon receiving one request, it performs the necessary computation and returns the result to the client. In many applications, a server is designed such that it can serve multiple clients simultaneously (e.g., web servers). It usually requires powerful hardware. It requires an operating system that supports multitasking.

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 Client Program It is an application program executed by an end user on a local computer. When it needs a service, it sends a request to the server program, and then waits for the response from the server program. It can request multiple services when it is necessary.

Client Server Interaction

The client and the server use a transport protocol to send and receive data. For example, they can use the TCP/IP protocol suite to communicate through the internet:

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 Two classes of interactions between the server and the client: Connection-oriented interaction using TCP Connectionless interaction using UDP Remark TCP provides reliable data delivery across the internet, while UDP does not guarantee reliable data delivery. Using connection-oriented interaction, the network programmer need not worry about data reliability. Programming is simpler. The client and the server can interact in many possible manners, e.g., An application (a client) interacts with one server only. An application becomes a client of one service, and later becomes a client of another service. For example, an application requests print service to print a file, and then requests file service to save the file. A server for one service can become a client of another. For example, a file server that needs to record the time of file access can become a client of a time server.
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 Multiple Services
A powerful computer can run multiple server programs to provide multiple services at the same time. Example: a computer runs a ftp server and a web server.

To provide multiple services, the computer must have sufficient resources (e.g., fast processor(s) and large memory); the OS supports multitasking (e.g., UNIX, Windows).

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 Service Identification Problem Suppose a computer is running multiple server programs. When this computer receives a client's request, how can it identify the requested service? Service Identification Solution When a server program begins execution, it registers with the local protocol software and specifies a unique identifier for its service. When a client requests a particular service, it sends the identifier of this service to the server. The server computer receives the identifier, so that it can identify the server program for handling this request. Service Identification in TCP In TCP, each service is identified by a unique 16-bit protocol port number. When a client requests a service, it specifies the protocol port number of this service in its request, and sends this request to the server. The server computer receives the protocol port number, so that it can identify the server program for handling the incoming request.

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 Multiple Protocols for a Service

A service can use either a connection-oriented transport, or a connectionless transport, or both. When a service supports two or more transport protocols, the client can choose the transport protocol. Two possible implementations: Implement one server program for connection-oriented transport, and implement another for connectionless transport. Implement one server program that can provide different transport for different clients' requests.

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 Tutorial Problems
In general, is a client program more complicated than a server program? A server program usually requires a powerful computer. Why? Does a server computer require a good display card or an expensive monitor? State some applications that use the clientserver paradigm. There is a printer in a LAN. What is the main function of a printer server? What would happen if there were no printer server?

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