Client/Server Frequently Asked Questions

Information about this document

Contained below is a list of commonly asked questions in
comp.client-server. Before posting a question to comp.client-server,
check to see if your question(s) are already answered below.

Additional questions (and answers!) may be emailed to:

        cs-faq@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu

Vendors of client/server products and services are welcome to submit
*brief* summaries of their offerings for inclusion in a separate portion
of this FAQ.  A single paragraph which includes pointers to additional
information (www, ftp, email, or voice telephone) is welcome.

This FAQ is archived at many sites, including the following. Any site
which mirrors "rtfm.mit.edu" should have a current copy as well. If you
did not receive the entire posting, please check here:

  http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/client-server-faq/faq.html
  ftp://ftp.uu.net/usenet/news.answers/client-server-faq.Z
  ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/news.answers/client-server-faq

-- Lloyd Taylor
   comp.client-server FAQ maintainer
   Public Key:  finger Lloyd.Taylor@jhuapl.edu@publickey.com
   Home Page: 

Changes since last release:

    Added questions/answers about two- and three- tier architectures
    Added information from another vendor

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Subject: Table of Contents

Comp.Client-Server Frequently Asked Questions List
Last Revision: 6/16/95

Part 1: Introduction and Miscellaneous questions

1.1   What archives/FTP sites carry client-server related material?


Part 2: Client/Server Definitions

2.1   What is Client-server Computing?
2.2   What is a Client Process?
2.3   What is a Server Process?
2.4   What is a Two-Tier Architecture?
2.5   What is a Three-Tier Architecture?
2.6   What is Middleware?
2.7   What is Cooperative Processing?
2.8   What is Distributed Processing?


Part 3: Client/Server Technical Issues

3.1   What are the characteristics of a Client/Server architecture?
3.2   What are the different types of Servers?
3.3   What are the different client/server processing styles?
3.4   What is Distributed or Remote Presentation?
3.5   What is Remote Data Management?
3.6   What is Distributed Function Processing?
3.7   What is IBM's System Application Architecture?
3.8   What is APPLE's VITAL architecture?
3.9   What is Sun's Open Network Computing Architecture?
3.10  What is Digital's Network Application System (NAS) architecture?
3.11  What is OSF-DCE?
3.12  What are DOMS (Distributed Object Management Systems)?
3.13  What is CORBA?
3.14  What is DAE?


Part 4: Client/Server Business Issues

4.1   Business-Focused Client/Server Architecture
4.2   Client/Server Business Application Architectures
4.3   Business Drivers
4.4   Business Benefits
4.5   What does business expect from IT?
4.6   What is Business Process Reengineering?


Part 5: Books and Articles on Client/Server computing

5.1   Introductory/Overview Books
5.2   Detailed Technical Books
5.3   Other Books


Part 6: Vendor Information

6.1   Middleware Vendors
6.2   Test Software Vendors
6.3   Development Tool Vendors