Client/Server Survival Guide, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author), Dan Harkey (Author), Jeri Edwards (Author) "Next, we explain how these technologies are morphing into what we call the Object Web..." (more)
Key Phrases: shippable places, distributed object bus, base middleware, Object Web, Top End, Server Transaction Processing (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Books on client/server computing are often dry and academic. Not so with the Client/Server Survival Guide, now in its third edition. The trio of authors--Jeri Edwards, Dan Harkey, and Robert Orfali--make the topic interesting with a down-to-earth style that covers the informational landscape without boring the reader to tears. Numerous nontechnical diagrams drive home important concepts quickly.

The first part consists of a comprehensive overview of client/server computing. In this critical introduction, the authors discuss the paradigm, the various flavors of servers, and the basics of two-tier and three-tier architectures. They also discuss how the client/server works in the real world and introduce the concepts of LAN, WAN, and other connection topologies.

Next, the authors introduce you to the various operating systems, the concept of middleware, and communication protocols. They present a forward-looking discussion of network operating systems, followed by several chapters on SQL database servers and transaction processing. With the database foundation laid, the authors then present client/server groupware, with a look at popular solutions such as Lotus Notes, Domino 5, and Novell GroupWise.

The book continues with discussions of object standards such as CORBA and DCOM, as well as an introduction to object databases and their potential for distributed computing. The book then covers the Internet with a wide-ranging discussion of Web-based client/server computing. This unique title wraps up with an acronym-packed look at client/server and distributed system management standards and a glimpse of the future of client/server architecture. --Stephen W. Plain

Product Description

The #1 Client/Server book, now completely updated and expanded!

"It's savvy, informative, and entertaining as anything you are likely to read on the subject. Client/server isn't one technology but many- remote SQL, TP, message-oriented groupware, distributed objects, and so on. Like the proverbial blind man feeling the elephant, most of us have a hard time seeing the whole picture. The authors succeed brilliantly in mapping the elephant."-John Udell, Byte, "Winner, JOLT Product Excellence Award."-Software Development

"The scope and depth of topics covered in the Guide, with its straightforward and often humorous delivery, make this book required reading for anyone who deals with computers in today's corporate environment."-Bob Gallagher, PC Week

"Absolutely the finest book on client/server on the market today. It's got great advice, and is well written and fun to read."-Richard Finkelstein

The critics agree-this is the best source for anyone looking to understand and make informed decisions about client/server technology. In this Third Edition of their award-winning book, authors Orfali, Harkey, and Edwards combine detailed technical explanations with their unique brand of offbeat humor, clever cartoons, controversial soapboxes, and witty quotes to inform, educate, and entertain.

This information-packed Survival Guide takes you on a sweeping tour of the world of client/server. From operating systems and communications, to application servers that incorporate database, transaction processing, groupware, and objects, to the Internet and the World Wide Web and their role in the new generation of client/server and object management, this book covers it all.

In their other lives: Robert Orfali and Dan Harkey head San Jose State University's Client/Server and Distributed Objects Master's program and lab. Dan also works for IBM as a distributed objects consultant. Jeri Edwards is Vice President of Strategy and Product Planning at BEA Systems.

Wiley Computer Publishing Timely. Practical. Reliable.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (January 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471316156
• ISBN-13: 978-0471316152
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,915 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on Client/Server in the market., August 22, 2000

By	Ramsundar Lakshminarayanan - See all my reviews

This book is for client/server novices and those with experience in client/server development.

For novices, this book is an excellent source for knowing the client/server architecture, 2-tier and above.

As a person experienced in client/server development this book gave an understanding of basics of application layer from a theoritical perspective.

This book has to be read many times and the readers will feel the need to refer to certain topics as the need arises. I have to caution the readers that this book is not meant to be read once.

A client/server system consists of a) presentation layer b) application layer c) database layer.

This books touches on topics on all the three layers In presentation layer, it deals with GUI/OOUI/non-GUI clients. In application layer, transaction processing (transaction management) is described in great detail. In the database layer, major database vendors are discussed (I feel this may not be useful for those of us already familiar with database management systems).

Messaging components (I tend to include TP monitors in this category too) are discussed that form the core part of application layer component.

The book discusses numerous other topics such as datawarehousing (OLAP, EIS, DSS), CORBA (excellent material to understand from a high-level perspective), object databases (I really liked this part because of my experience in RDBMS) and distributed objects and management.

I would highly recommend this book for those of you out there waiting to know more about client/server architecture.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book to read twice..., October 9, 1999

By	Anne (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't have a programming background and only had general knowledge about the client/server architecture world when I purchased this book. I needed to come up to speed quickly. The book was recommended to me by a co-worker who is extremely knowledgeable about c/s. At first I tired to read the book as a reference piece, reading just the parts that I was interested in at the time. I didn't get anything out of the book, confused by all the acronyms. I found myself with some free time and ended up reading the book cover-to-cover within a week (unfortunately not sitting on the beach as the authors suggest).

This made a world of difference. Each chapter builds on the next and the information started to crystallize. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wanted to learn about c/s. I plan to read it again. With ever-changing technology this book will become quickly out-dated. This is one reader that will be looking for the next edition. The reason this book is "one star short" is because while I was reading, I kept wishing for a section where all the acronyms are expanded for quick reference. A glossary would also be great.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tour de force of entire client/server arena, October 19, 1999

By A Customer

I have been doing nothing but client/server for the last five years. In spite of that I cannot keep up with all the latest developments. I am a computer consultant -- in my field it is imperative that I have a very broad overview -- I never know what my clients might ask and must have something worthwhile to answer.

This book is an excellent book for understanding the entire client/server space. The level of detail is excellent for such a broad overview. It is not too deep. It is not shallow.

Use this book as a jump-start to understand the client/server landscape. When you find areas interesting to you, deep-dive into them.