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Client-Server Basics
by Sharlee Plett

One of the cornerstones of Internet technology is client-server. The goal of client-server is to share the processing burden between two computers. The individual programs you use on your computer to view or manage information over the Intenet are called client software. Client programs on your system send out requests for information stored on Internet host computers called servers. Servers store all manner of information and are specially configured to receive and send information over the Internet.

The host computers are called servers, because they have special software installed on them and are set up to allow them to receive requests from other computers and serve it to the other computers. They actually listen on the Internet for requests that are being sent to them.

Unless you have installed web server software on your computer, it isn't set up to listen for requests or receive and send your information.

Here's how client-server works:
  1. Your software client (Web browser) requests information of a server (a Web server, a host computer configured to store all the files that make up a Web site);

  2. The request travels across the Internet until it finds the requested server;

  3. The server detects the client's request and transmits that information back to the client;

  4. The client software processes the files it received from the server and displays it on your computer screen.

The idea behind client-server is to share the processing and storage load so that no system is overly burdened with either. The client does not have the task of storing vast quantities of data, while the server is relieved of the actual processing and display duties.

Here's an example of a World Wide Web client-server interaction:
  • You instruct your World Wide Web client program, Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, to find satellite weather photos on the weather server at the Weather Channel.

  • Navigator, the client, sends a command to the server in Atlanta to send the pictures to it.

  • The Weather Channel server in Atlanta sends the data to your client (Navigator)

  • Navigator downloads the file and stores it in your temporary Internet file folder

  • Navigator then opens the file with the photo information and presents it on your monitor.

So, your computer does not have to store volumes of weather data on your hard drive and the Weather Channel computers do not have to process the photos for display on your monitor. Client-server is efficient and fast, most of the time.

Note: You might encounter the term peer-to-peer network. This type of network exists when every computer in a particular network of computers acts both as a client and a server.