Microsoft Access 2010 Bible

Chapter 36: Client/Server Concepts ..........................................................................................

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Figure 36.1 illustrates one possible client/server architecture deployed in a corporate environment.

Everything is connected to the central server computer. A single server computer (which may be a

cluster or Web server farm) provides local access to client computers across a local intranet. At the

same time, the server provides access to remote computers across the Internet. The same data is

shared by all users, whether local or remote. All the client computers, the Internet browsers shown

in the cloud, and even the printer are effectively client applications of one form or another.

Note
The printer shown in Figure 36.1 outputs reports sent by both client computers and the server computer. In
this case, a printer is a client to the server computer, as well as a resource provided by the server.

Alternatively, the computers in the Internet cloud in Figure 36.1 may be other Web servers that indi-

rectly provide data to the client computers connected to the server computer. The actual connections

between the computers in Figure 36.1 are somewhat conceptual, and the distinction between client

and server depends on which computer is accessing data stored on another computer.

FIGURE 36.1

A common client-server computer-system layout

Client

computer

Client

computer

Client

computer

Server

computer

Database

The

Internet

Printer

Reporting