Understanding Networked Applications:

A First Course

Chapter 5

by
David G. Messerschmitt
 Client Client
host host

Server
host

Understanding Networked Applications 2 A First Course

 Part of the rationale
• Specialization:
– Clients specialize in user interface
– Servers specialize in managing data and
application logic
• Sharing:
– Many clients can be supported by few servers
– Often data and logic are shared among
applications and users
Understanding Networked Applications 3 A First Course
 “I want to
collaborate
with my
“I want to access colleague”
some information”

Client

Server Peer-to-peer

Client/server
Understanding Networked Applications 4 A First Course
 Distinctions
• Client-server
– Asymmetric relationship
– Client predominately makes requests, server
makes replies
• Peer-to-peer
– Symmetric relationship

Understanding Networked Applications 5 A First Course

 Email application

Server
Client Client

Email client sends Later, recipient’s

message to server email client
Message is stored
retrieves message
on POP server
from server

Understanding Networked Applications 6 A First Course

 Chat application

Server

Client
Client

Chat server
aggregates typing Other user’s clients
from all users and display aggregated
Chat clients send sends to all clients typing from chat
user’s typing to server
server
Understanding Networked Applications 7 A First Course
 Three-tier client/server
Local-area network
Application
logic

Presentation

Note: many clients per Shared

application server, several data
application servers per data
server

Understanding Networked Applications 8 A First Course

 Client

Host architecture
Web
browser

Web
server Common
gateway
Application interchange
logic

Databases
and DBMS

Application partition
Understanding Networked Applications 9 A First Course
 Practice in defining tiers
• Online bookseller (e.g. amazon.com)
• Stock trading system (e.g. Schwab or E-
trade)

Understanding Networked Applications 10 A First Course

 amazon.com

Understanding Networked Applications 11 A First Course

 Schwab

Understanding Networked Applications 12 A First Course

 Question
• What types of social applications would be
appropriate for a client/server architecture?

Understanding Networked Applications 13 A First Course

 Departments

Enterprise-to-enterprise
Commerce
Consumer

Enterprise
Understanding Networked Applications 14 A First Course
 software4u.com

Customers
Customer-service
Technical-support
department
department

Consumer Enterprise

Understanding Networked Applications 15 A First Course

 Consumer Enterprise
application application
Web Web Web
browser browser browser
Customer care

Web server Web server Web server

Customer logic Agent logic Technician logic

Databases

Customer Software Problem

audit documentation knowledge
base
Understanding Networked Applications 16 A First Course
 Customers Agents Technicians

Customer logic Agent logic Technician logic

Databases

Accounts Products Orders

Understanding Networked Applications 17 A First Course

 Financial institution

Book distribution
Customers centers
books4u.com

Consumer Enterprise Inter-enterprise

Understanding Networked Applications 18 A First Course

 Consumer Inter-enterprise
Web e-commerce e-commerce
browser
Book merchant

Web server

Customer logic Fullfillment logic

Outside links
Databases
Acquirer Book
Customers Merchandise Orders bank distributors

Understanding Networked Applications 19 A First Course

 Clients

Acquirer
Customer logic bank

Fullfillment logic

Databases

Book
Customers Merchandise Orders distributors

Understanding Networked Applications 20 A First Course

 Information providers

Customers
Stock market
stocks4u.com

Consumer Enterprise Inter-enterprise

Understanding Networked Applications 21 A First Course
 Consumer Inter-enterprise
Web e-commerce e-commerce
browser
Stock trader

Web server

Customer logic Trading logic

Outside links
Databases
Information Financial
Accounts Products Orders providers markets

Understanding Networked Applications 22 A First Course

 Clients

Information
Customer logic providers

Trading logic

Databases

Financial
Accounts Products Orders markets

Understanding Networked Applications 23 A First Course

 Financial institution

Customers

flowers4u.com
Local florists

Consumer Enterprise Inter-enterprise

Understanding Networked Applications 24 A First Course

 Consumer Inter-enterprise
e-commerce e-commerce

Web Push
browser server
Florist delivery

Web server Push client

Customer logic Fullfillment logic

Outside link
Databases
Acquirer
Accounts Products Orders bank

Understanding Networked Applications 25 A First Course

 Customers Florists

Customer logic Fullfillment logic

Acquirer
bank

Databases

Accounts Products Orders

Understanding Networked Applications 26 A First Course

 Shortcomings of client/server
• Departmental solution
• Proliferates non-interoperable technologies
and applications
• Hardwired applications lose flexibility
What are some goals and likely
characteristics of future enterprise
architectures?

Understanding Networked Applications 27 A First Course