Datasheet

Chapter 1
20
Server-Centric
This lives on the notion that computing power is cheaper in PCs than in host systems, but tries to gain
some of the advantages of centralized systems. Only user services are distributed to the client. Only
information that actually needs to be displayed on the screen is sent to the client. Business and data
services remain at the server. Network bandwidth is far more host system like.
Traditional Client/Server
(Server-Centric)
Client
User Services
Server
Business & Data
Services
Database
Advantages Disadvantages
Some upgrades can be done entirely at the
server level.
Other upgrades still require a "touch" on every
client computer – upgrades and new installs are
both very tedious and difficult logistically.
A large number of homogeneous products
are available off-the-shelf – pre-made
software is cheap.
Long-running and heavy-load jobs by one user
affect all users.
Since only the information to be displayed
is sent on the network, there is little
network bandwidth used compared to the
client-centric model.
Large servers grow exponentially in price. Some
are every bit as expensive as host systems.
Though the model starts to look like a host
system model, there is usually considerably
more downtime.