Oracle7 Server Distributed Systems Volume I: Distributed Data
The Client-Server Model and Distributed Systems
The client-server model is basic to distributed systems. It is a response to the limitations presented by the traditional mainframe client-host model, in which a single mainframe provides shared data access to many dumb terminals. The client-server model is also a response to the local area network (LAN) model, in which many isolated systems access a file server that provides no processing power.
Client-server architecture provides integration of data and services and allows clients to be isolated from inherent complexities, such as communication protocols. The simplicity of the client-server architecture allows clients to make requests that are routed to the appropriate server. These requests are made in the form of transactions. Client transactions are often SQL or PL/SQL procedures and functions that access individual databases and services.