Recently, advances in networking and Web technology have introduced a new network-based computing model [Oracle96]. Network Computing Architecture, created by Oracle, is a comprehensive, open, network-based architecture that provides extensibility for distributed environments. The Web and Internet are rapidly evolving to become the infrastructure for the global economy, both on the public Internet and on the vast numbers of corporate Intranets. Within this relatively new domain, many technologies are competing for providing the infrastructure for distributing large-scale applications. Some of these technologies come from standards activities, some from academia, and some from individual vendors.
In the near future, as the smart global network becomes a reality, numerous types of devices will become network connectable, including such home devices as interactive TVs, videophones, and environmental control systems [Novell96]. What's more, the devices in your home will eventually give you two-way access to a worldwide network, the Information Superhighway.
The Web addresses some of the challenges presented by client/server computing: it is easy-to-use, solves the fat client problem (described later), and provides a low-cost, open deployment platform. However, as a platform for large-scale, distributed applications, it lacks scalability, mission-critical services, security, and a simple means of creating, debugging, deploying, managing, and operating applications. As the Web evolves from a library of documents to an electronic business platform for conducting secure transactions on private Intranets and public Internets, it needs to provide the rich services of the client/server world and provide robust, scalable, and reusable extensibility.
Fat clients, found in client/server computing, are characterized by ample resident memory, persistent storage (hard disks), and high end multimedia and content creation capability. Thin clients, found in Web-based computing, are characterized by minimum of resources, little persistent storage, and very simple (if any) content creation. Fat clients are also relatively expensive, whereas thin clients are relatively inexpensive.
Distributed objects are the building blocks for the next generation of client/server systems. Distributed object technology is extremely well-suited for creating flexible client/server systems because the data and business logic are encapsulated within objects, allowing them to be located anywhere within a distributed system. Distributed objects have the potential to allow software to plug-and-play, interoperate across networks, run on different platforms, coexist with legacy applications through object wrappers, roam on networks, and manage themselves and the resources they control. Object technology is widely seen as the next-generation approach for application development, providing the mechanism for more efficient programming and rapid responses to business needs and opportunities.
Network Computing Architecture insulates both developers and businesses from the risks associated with rapidly evolving technology by providing a unifying, standards-based architecture for client/server, the Web, and distributed objects. Support for key open and de facto standards guarantees that developers can use their client of choice, a language that suits the application, and an appropriate programming model for rapid deployment.
The Web technologies of HTTP, HTML, and JAVA with the object technologies of CORBA 2.0 form the basis for distributed computing in the networked economy. CORBA 2.0 is recognized by the industry as today's most advanced and practicable technology for implementing a distributed-object environment. JAVA provides extensibility, portability, and a de facto programming language throughout the architecture.
The Network Computer (or NC)™is a set of appliances based upon open standards for networked computing and communications. The NC provides inexpensive Internet access and applications for a wide range of users in businesses, educational institutions, consumers and developing countries. The NC redefines what a computer should be: small, inexpensive, easy to use, and without the complexity and cost associated with today's personal computers (PCs).
The NC builds on the Internet, the World Wide Web, and corporate Intranets. It automatically downloads most or all of the necessary software from servers over a network. This means that as an NC user, you never have to worry about disk backups or file recoveries, and you can access information from anywhere, not just from your own PC. Data encryption technology ensures privacy and security. Because the software and files are stored on a server rather than on an individual PC, you always get the most recent version of everything, from data to application software, virtually eliminating the complicated, costly tasks of software acquisition, installation, administration, and maintenance.
The NC is based on industry and de facto standards, like HTML for publishing Web documents, HTTP for communicating with servers over the Internet and the Java Virtual Machine for running small portable applications. Developers and software companies writing applications based on open standards will always be supported on the NC.
Copyright © 1996 Constantinos Phanouriou, All Rights Reserved
Constantinos Phanouriou
<phanouri@vt.edu>
Last modified: Fri Nov 26 10:00:00 1996