3.1 Client-Server Architecture Components

Question 1

What are the 3 main components of Client-Server architecture?

Answer 1

• Hardware
• Software
• Communication Middleware

Question 2

Define client, server, and communication middleware in client-server architecture and provide the alternative names given to them in this sort of architecture.

Answer 2

• Client: Any process that sends requests to a server, also known as the frontend application
• Server: Any process that processes client requests, and provides responses to them also known as the backend application
• Communication Middleware: Any process that acts as a middleman between client and server communication also known as the Communication Layer.

Question 3

How do the components of client server architecture communicate with each other?

Answer 3

The client process provides an interface for users and sends requests on their behalf, the communication middleware acts as a middleman between the client and server ensuring requests and responses are routed appropriately the server process, processes the request and sends back a response to the client.

Question 4

What are the rules for client-server interactions?

Answer 4

• Clients can send multiple requests, to multiple servers
• Servers are not limited to processing a single request
• The same machine can serve as both a client and a server