Operating Systems: Client-server Architecture

Study Notes

Operating Systems: Client-server Architecture

Definition: A computing model that separates tasks or workloads between service providers (servers) and service requesters (clients).
Components:
- Client: Requests services or resources from a server, typically a user’s device or application.
- Server: Provides resources or services to clients, often running on powerful hardware or a cloud environment.
Characteristics:
- Scalability: Can accommodate increasing numbers of clients without significant changes.
- Resource sharing: Multiple clients can share server resources effectively.
- Centralized management: Easier to manage and update resources on a server.
Types:
- Two-tier architecture: Direct communication between client and server.
- Three-tier architecture: Introduces an additional layer (middleware) to handle client requests and server responses.
Examples:
- Web applications (e.g., browsers as clients and web servers).
- Database systems (e.g., SQL clients connecting to database servers).

Operating Systems: Networking Concepts

Definition: The set of protocols and technologies that allow computers to communicate and share resources over a network.
Key Concepts:
- Network: A collection of computers and devices connected to share resources.
- Protocols: Rules governing data transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP).
Types of Networks:
- Local Area Network (LAN): Covers a small geographic area, such as a home or office.
- Wide Area Network (WAN): Covers a larger geographic area, often composed of multiple LANs.
Client-server Networking:
- Request-response model: Clients initiate requests which servers respond to.
- Stateless vs. Stateful: Stateless servers do not maintain session information; stateful servers do.
Essential Networking Components:
- IP Addressing: Unique identifiers for devices on a network.
- DNS (Domain Name System): Translates human-readable domain names to IP addresses.
- Routers and Switches: Devices that manage traffic and connectivity between networks.
Network Security:
- Firewalls: Control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules.
- Encryption: Protects data transmitted over networks (e.g., SSL/TLS).
Common Networking Models:
- OSI Model: A conceptual framework used to understand network interactions in seven layers.
- TCP/IP Model: A four-layer model that describes how data is transmitted over the internet.

Client-server Architecture

A computing model divides roles between service providers (servers) and service requesters (clients).
Client: User's device or application that requests resources from a server.
Server: Powerful hardware or cloud-based service providing resources to clients.
Scalability: System can grow in client numbers without major modifications.
Resource Sharing: Enables multiple clients to utilize server resources efficiently.
Centralized Management: Facilitates easier updates and management of resources on a server.
Two-tier Architecture: Direct client-server communication, typically used in simpler applications.
Three-tier Architecture: Incorporates middleware to organize client requests and server responses.
Common applications include web applications (browsers as clients, web servers) and database systems (SQL clients and database servers).

Networking Concepts

Involves protocols and technologies enabling computers to communicate and share resources over networks.
Network: A group of interconnected computers and devices for resource sharing.
Protocols: Set rules for data transmission, e.g., TCP/IP and HTTP.
Local Area Network (LAN): Small geographic area connectivity, such as homes and offices.
Wide Area Network (WAN): Larger geographical coverage, linking multiple LANs.
Client-server Networking: Characterized by a request-response model; clients initiate requests, servers respond.
Differentiation exists between stateless servers (no session info) and stateful servers (maintain session info).
IP Addressing: Unique identifiers assigned to each device on a network for communication.
DNS (Domain Name System): Converts human-friendly domain names into IP addresses.
Routers and Switches: Manage network traffic and maintain connectivity among devices.
Network Security: Involves firewalls, which manage traffic based on defined security protocols, and encryption (e.g., SSL/TLS) for safe data transmission.
Common Networking Models include the OSI Model (seven layers for understanding network interactions) and the TCP/IP Model (four layers for data transmission over the internet).

Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of client-server architecture in operating systems. This quiz covers definitions, components, characteristics, and types of this computing model, enhancing your understanding of service providers and requesters. Dive into examples and learn how scalability and resource sharing play a crucial role.