Question:
I’ve heard a lot of talk about “client-server architecture” ? is it something real, or just marketing hype?
Answer:
Indeed, client-server architecture is real. Put simply, the client-server model defines two distinct components: the server runs the software that is responsible for managing the physical database; the clients run the applications that retrieve and manipulate the data. The concept is particularly popular today due to the proliferation of PCs. In the past, when databases were used primarily on mainframes, users worked on terminals that had no processing power of their own. With PC processing power on the users’ desks, it makes sense to take advantage of that power. Although it may seem like “marketing hype,” the benefits are very real, especially if your organization already has made any investments in PCs.