Client/Server Computing

Introduction | Cost | Sustainability | User Productivity | Reliability and Security | Conclusion

Sustainability
Client/server computing is often advertised as a low maintenance alternative to mainframe computing. This is not necessarily true. Everyone who has a PC in their home and has spent hours waiting on hold with their manufacturer's technical support knows that a PC is not as simple as taking it out of the box and plugging in the parts. Today's PC's and the software they use are very complicated. Client application errors are not repairable from a remote console, instead they require a visit from desk side support and could be caused by anything from a virus to a conflict with the screen saver program the end user brought from home. This adds a new complexity to trouble shooting that is not present in mainframe computing .

Client/server maintenance also takes on a more prominent role. Client/server computing places part or all of an applications software on the client. This means that when a change needs to be made or software updated it has to happen on every client, not just on the server. These updates are labor intensive and difficult to manage on large sites. In some cases updates can be automated such as with IBM's Netdoor software, but these innovations tend to be complicated and touchy at best. There is some hope with the anticipated network computer (NC) that this problem could be alleviated or at least diminished. This is because the NC downloads new software every time you run an application therefore the application code only has to be maintained on the server.

Client/server computing requires a change in the way a company thinks of application maintenance and technical support for the end user.