Client-Server Architecture
Client-Server Architecture Explained
The client-server architecture refers to a system that hosts, delivers, and manages most of the resources and services that the client requests. In this model, all requests and services are delivered over a network, and it is also referred to as the networking computing model or client server network.
Client-server architecture, alternatively called a client-server model, is a network application that breaks down tasks and workloads between clients and servers that reside on the same system or are linked by a computer network.
Client-server architecture typically features multiple users’ workstations, PCs, or other devices, connected to a central server via an Internet connection or other network. The client sends a request for data, and the server accepts and accommodates the request, sending the data packets back to the user who needs them.
This model is also called a client-server network or a network computing model.
To sum it up briefly:
• First, the client sends their request via a network-enabled device
• Then, the network server accepts and processes the user request
• Finally, the server delivers the reply to the client
What’s the Purpose of Client-Server Architecture?
We have already established that technology is constantly evolving and improving, often at a very rapid pace. As a result, today's businesses increasingly rely on technology, especially IT, to flourish and stay competitive in an "evolve or die" environment.
Therefore, today's organizations need a system that makes it easy to collect, process, and act on corporate data, thus increasing business procedure efficiency and ensuring survivability in the modern world's markets.
The client-server network model brings a higher level of processing that increases the effectiveness of workstation power, workgroup empowerment, remote network management, market-driven business, and the preservation of existing investments.
In summary, client-server architecture provides the exact framework that today’s organizations need to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving IT world.
The Characteristics of Client-Server Architecture
Client-server architecture typically features the following characteristics:
• Client and server machines typically require different hardware and software resources and come from other vendors.
• The network has horizontal scalability, which increases the number of client machines and vertical scalability, an then moves the entire process to more powerful servers or a multi-server configuration.
• One computer server can provide multiple services simultaneously, although each service requires a separate server program.
• Both client and server applications interact directly with a transport layer protocol. This process establishes communication and enables the entities to send and receive information.
Both the client and server computers need a complete stack of protocols. The transport protocol employs lower-layer protocols to send and receive individual messages.
Visualizing Client-Server Architecture
The following client-server diagram shows the basics of of the architecture:
What Are Some Examples of Client-Server Architecture?
You may wonder what constitutes a real-life application of client-server architecture. Here are three examples of how you use client-server architecture, probably more often than you think!
• Email servers: Thanks to ease and speed, e-mail has supplanted traditional postal mail as the primary form of corporate communication. E-mail servers, aided by various brands of dedicated software, send and receive e-mails between parties.
• File servers: If you store files on cloud-based services such as Google Docs or Microsoft Office, you're using a file server. File servers are centralized locations for file storage and are accessed by many clients.
• Web servers: These high-performance servers host many different websites, and clients access them through the Internet. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
• The client/user uses their web browser to enter the URL they want
• The browser asks the Domain Name System (DNS) for an IP address
• The DNS server finds the desired server’s IP address and sends it to the web browser
• The browser creates either an HTTPS or HTTP request
• The server/producer sends the user the correct files
• The client/user receives the files sent by the server, and the process is repeated as needed
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Client-Server Architecture
Client-server architecture brings its share of positives and negatives to today’s digital consumers. We start with a list of advantages:
• It’s a centralized system that keeps all the data and its controls in one place
• It brings a high level of scalability, organization, and efficiency
• It allows the IT staff to change the Client and Server capacities separately
• It’s cost-efficient, especially in terms of maintenance
• It allows data recovery
• It allows load-balancing, which optimizes performance
• It allows different platforms to share resources
• Users don’t need to log into a terminal or another processor to access corporate information or desktop tools like PowerPoint presenters or spreadsheet utilities
• The setup reduces the incidence of data replication
Naturally, client-server architecture isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. Here are the downsides:
• If the server has a worm, virus, or Trojan, the users will likely catch it since the network consists of linked clients and servers
• The server is vulnerable to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks
• Data packets can be spoofed or modified during transmission
• It’s expensive to start up and initially implement
• If a critical server goes down, the clients are dead in the water
• The setup is prone to phishing and Man in the Middle (MITM) attacks