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Client/Server Applications on ATM Networks Daniel Minoli and Andrew Schmidt 1997 | 350 pages ISBN: 137353006 |
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$48.00 | Hardbound print book | |
Preface
When talking about Information Technologies (IT), the client/server approach is the contemporary buzzword. Client/server computing is a popular subject of discussion, important to every corporation. Client/server techniques, if implemented correctly, can change the way companies do business, so they can enhance their competitive position and do business more profitably.
In the contemporary paradigm, IT is established around workgroup computing, whether the workers are in a building, in a campus, around town, around the nation, or around the world. We have reached a stage of development where "the corporation-is-the-network." Therefore, deployment of client/server technology across an enterprise will increasingly require a robust broadband communication infrastructure which can support the required grade of service and availability that are dictated by the productivity expectations of the organization. Also, there is now significant interest in deploying intranets, which not only utilize client/server technology, but also necessitate broadband backbones and broadband desktop access. Having placed most if not all of the employees on an entreprise network, any communication delays, quirks, or inefficiencies can significantly degrade overall company productivity, and, ultimately, business viability. (Naturally, server-level bottlenecks are equally undesirable.)
To achieve the desired worker productivity enhancements sought through communication technology, workgroups will increasingly be interconnected over an enterprisewide high-speed networks. Large corporations find themselves with a growing need to extend high-speed communications beyond key sites, in order to support applications such as client/server-based company processes (order processing, inventory management, etc.), distributed cooperative computing, business/scientific imaging, video conferencing, video distribution, multimedia, (corporate) distance learning, etc.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology and cell relay service will play a major role in enterprise networks. ATM technology not only supports fastpacket -services but also frame relay service, LAN emulation, cut-through IP connectivity, and video/multimedia services. It is anticipated that ATM services will transform the enterprise network from a data-only network, to an integrated data, voice, video, image, and multimedia corporate infrastructure. ATM is being positioned to meet these corporate needs now receiving CTO, CNO, and CIO attention.
A lot of discussion has occurred in the industry in the past five years about ATM's general evolution in support of wide area high-speed connectivity, support of legacy LANs and legacy protocols, and multimedia capabilities. However there has been no specific discussion of how ATM can support the client/server environment, now so prevalent.
Given these two conspicuous but so far unrelated technologies, client/server and ATM, this book aims at explaining how the inevitable marriage of the two will soon, have to, occur. The book is divided into three major sections. Section One (Chapters 1-3) covers the basics of client/server technology and the business importance of this IT paradigm. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the concept. Chapter 2 discusses the use of this technology in the corporate environment. Chapter 3 looks at the more general topic of distributed databases and object-oriented methodologies. Section Two (Chapter 4) covers the basics of ATM, and the business needs the technology addresses. Section Three (Chapters 5-9) covers specific integration of client/server in an ATM environment. This critical section covers supporting classical IP-based client/server systems over ATM (Chapter 5). This chapter also discusses supporting new client/server applications using LAN Emulation. Multiprotocol Over ATM (MPOA) and its relationship to client/server systems is covered in Chapter 6. Internet client/server technology (HyperText Transfer Protocol-HTTP-and Java) is covered in Chapter 7, because of the evolving intranet requirements in many corporations. Finally, Chapter 8 discusses issues and measurements related to ATM usage for client/server applications.
DESCRIPTION
Today, to meet the surging demands of client/server company-wide processes--distributed cooperative computing, business/scientific imaging, video conferencing, multimedia, distance learning and many more--corporations are finding they must extend high-speed communications beyond just a few key sites. This book discusses ATM as the key technology for transforming the enterprise network from data-only to an integrated data, voice, video, image and multimedia corporate infrastructure.
Previous books have covered ATM and client/server separately. This book, intended for networking professionals, is unique in its focus on the hows and whys of the inevitable marriage of these two technologies.
What's inside:
- A description of client/server models and how they function
- A basic review of ATM networking
- Techniques used to build state-of-the-art communications systems
- How to implement a client/server ATM network
- Practical ATM issues such as traffic management and performance
- How to use evolving protocols to grow networks in the future
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK...
"I will recommend this book to my colleagues ... the book is
excellent."
--Kay Burin, Systems Engineer, Broadband ATM, Hewlett-Packard
"The authors review key concepts with just enough detail
to set the stage for the new information ... but not too much to be
wasting the reader's time ... nice balance."
--Craig Wiesner, Co-founder, WKMN Training
ABOUT THE AUTHORS...
Daniel Minoli, Director of Engineening and Development at Teleport Communications Group, has extensive interdisciplinary experience in advanced telecommunications and data communications, acquired through tenures at premiere technology-based organizations, including Bellcore, Prudential Securities, ITT, and Bell Laboratories.
Andrew Schmidt has over 15 years of telecommunications, engineering, marketing and management experience gained in both industry and academia. For the past decade his concentration has been in WAN network design, network management, and protocol modeling/simulation. Most recently, he is Product Manager in Ameritech's Business Solutions Group with responsibility for WAN/LAN Inter/Intranet products.