2. Driving forces behind Client-Server

Question 1

What are the factors that drive the move to client-server computing?

Answer 1

• The changing business environment
• Globalization
• The growing need for enterprise data access
• Technological advances
• Growing cost and performance advantages of PC-based platforms
• Enterprise network management

Question 2

What are the two main categories of factors that drive towards the move to client-server computing?

Answer 2

• The Business Perspective
• The technological Perspective

Question 3

What are the benefits of client-server computing from the business perspective?

Answer 3

• Increase in productivity
• Provides superior quality
• Improves responsiveness
• Focuses on core businesses

Question 4

What are the factors that drive the move to client-server computing from the business perspective?

Answer 4

• The Changing Business environment
• Globalization
• The growing need for enterprise data access

Question 5

Explain the “Changing Business environment” factor that drives the move to client-server.

Answer 5

With businesses becoming more competitive, business process engineering has become necessary, meaning organizations are forced to find new ways to manage their businesses with fewer personnel outsourcing, and market-driven orientation. These make client-server computing and attractive choice for these issues.

Question 6

Explain the “Globalization” factor that drives the move to client-server.

Answer 6

The world is now treated as a market, and IT plays an important role in bringing all the trade to a single platform. IT helps and supports various marketing priorities like quality, cost, product differentiation, and services.

Question 7

Explain the “The growing need for enterprise data access” factor that drives the move to client-server.

Answer 7

Organizations need to be able to perform quick and accurate data access for decision-making, and as organizations grow and merge with other organizations it is not uncommon to find a mixture of multiple separate data sources in their system.

Question 8

What technological advantages have made client-server computing practical?

Answer 8

• Intelligent desktop devices
• Computer network architectures
• Technical advances in microprocessors, data communication, internet database systems, operating systems, and GUI
• Trends in Computer usage e.g warehousing and data mining

Question 9

How will a business run from distributed locations be handled?

Answer 9

Every unit of communication will be run as a single seamless unit to ensure reliability, security, and the delivery of accurate information promptly.

Question 10

Name five tools used for the development of client-server systems.

Answer 10

Acrostic: G2 MODS

• GUI based development
• GUI builder that supports multiple interfaces
• Multiple database support
• Object Oriented development
• Data access regardless of data model
• Support for different CASE tools

Question 11

What are the development phases in client-server system development?

Answer 11

• Information Infrastructure self-study
• Client-server infrastructure definition
• Selecting a window of opportunity
• Management Commitment
• Implementation
• Review and Evaluation

Question 12

In the development of client-server systems, what is done at the “Information Infrastructure self-study” stage of development?

Answer 12

The state of available computer resources is determined, the goal is to generate:
- software and hardware details
- a detailed and descriptive list of critical applications
- detailed list of personnel and their skills
- a detailed list of problems and opportunities

Question 13

In the development of client-server systems, what is done at the “Client-server infrastructure definition” stage of development?

Answer 13

The results of the information infrastructure self-study, combined with the goal of the organization, are used to come up with the client-server system blueprint. This blueprint must address the hardware and software issues, of the client, server, and network platforms.

Question 14

In the development of client-server systems, what is done at the “Selecting a window of opportunit” stage of development?

Answer 14

Deciding the system on which to base the client-server system, while focusing on the available resources, project goals, and problems.

Question 15

In the development of client-server systems, what is done at the “Management Commitment” stage of development?

Answer 15

Ensuring that the necessary resources (people, hardware, software, money, infrastructure) will be available and dedicated to the system.

Question 16

In the development of client-server systems, what is done at the “Implementation” stage of development?

Answer 16

• Fostering continues education in hardware, software, tools, and development principles.
  *Looking for vendors and consultants to provide specific training and implementation of designs, hardware, application software

Question 17

In the development of client-server systems, what is done at the “Review and Evaluation” stage of development?

Answer 17

The review and evaluation phase ensures that the system meets the criteria defined earlier. System performance should be monitored as load increases, as typical Client/Server systems may generate more network traffic and slow down the network. Careful performance modeling is essential to maintain good performance under heavy user demand. This modeling should focus on three areas:

The server end
The client end
The network layer

Question 18

What is a standard?

Answer 18

A standard is a publicly defined method to accomplish specific tasks or purposes within a given discipline and technology.

Question 19

What are the benefits of using standards in client-server development?

Answer 19

• Standards enable seamless integration of new technology with existing IT investments.
• They allow the mixing and matching of ‘best-of-breed’ products across tools and software.
• Standards ensure modular applications remain functional despite network or system changes.
• Standards maintain tighter security.
• Standards reduce the burden of overall maintenance and system administration