L2 The Application Layer Flashcards
What are the functions of the application layer?
- Data storage (data encoding, compression)
- Data access logic (data retrieval decisions)
- Application/business logic (core processing logic of the application)
- Presentation logic (information presentation and UI interaction)
What is the difference between architecture and function in the application layer?
Architecture: the way in which the functions of the application layer are spread among the clients and servers in the network.
Functions: the tasks performed by the application in providing services to the user.
What are the types of application architecture?
- host based (server based): the server does most of the work
- client based: the client does most of the work
- client-server: the work is shared between client and sever
- peer-to-peer: the work is shared between all communicating computers where they assume both roles of client and server
List four different types of servers
Mainframe
Personal computer
Cluster (physically separate but linked. Cluster of PC’s)
Virtual servers
List four examples of clients
Personal computers
Terminal (everything sent to server to be processed)
Transaction terminal (ATM)
Handheld
Describe the types of clients
Fat client: powerful processing (presentation, application and data access logic)
Thin client: low processing power (only runs presentation logic and little application logic)
Ultra-thin client: very low processing power (used where theft might be a problem)
Describe host (or server) based architecture
The server does practically all the work.
User input is sent to server and display information is generated by server.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of host (server) based architectures?
Advantages:
Central processing: application software easy to manage
Central data storage: secure
Expensive parts of the system are protected
Disadvantages:
Central processing: single point of failure
Highly critical resource: redundancy, backup, and protection are important.
Incredibly expensive to maintain
Describe client-based architecture
Client responsible for presentation, application, and do that access logic. The server is only used to store data
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a client-based architecture?
Advantages:
Cost distribution
Cost reduction: powerful clients are relatively inexpensive
Disadvantages:
Server takes no part data access: file locking can be problematic
Highly critical resource: redundancy, backup, and protection become important
Inefficient network utilization: Entire file must be retrieved over the network, edited, then sent back over the network
Describe the client/server architecture
The client is responsible for presentation and application logic. Server is used to store data and provide data access logic (and sometimes application logic).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of client/server architecture?
Advantages:
Cost distribution
Cost-reduction: powerful clients are really expensive
Increased efficiency: processing distribution means that you can do more with less powerful processors.
Enables multivendor interoperation: allows the vendor’s client to send and retrieve data to/from any other vendor’s server.
Disadvantages:
Multivendor interworking: all vendors must follow the exact same data interchange specification.
Middleware: middleware is used when there is no direct data interchange standard between certain type of client and server.
Describe middleware
Translates between the client application and the server application. Used to manage message transfer.
In what layer is middleware implemented?
Mostly the application layer, but some parts of the presentation layer
Describe two-tier client-server architecture and state what the client does as well as what the server does.
It has two hosts involved in end to end transactions. Client: Handles presentation and application logic
Server: Stores data and provides data access logic.
Describe the three parts of three-tier client-server architecture and what they do.
It has three hosts involved in end to end transactions.
Client: Handles presentation logic
Application Server: Handles application logic
Server: stores data and provides data access logic
Describe the parts of N-Tier client-server architecture and what they do.
It has four or more hosts involved in end to end transactions.
Client: Handles presentation logic
Application Server: Handles application logic
Server: stores data and provides data access logic