Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

There are many different types of middleware. Some focus on specific types of connectivity, others on specific applications, application components and devices; some combine middleware capabilities for a specific development task. Some of the best-known and most commonly-used types of middleware software include:

Message-oriented middleware (MOM) enables application components using different messaging protocols to communicate to exchange messages. In addition to translating - or transforming - messages between applications, MOM manages routing of the messages so they always get to the proper components in the in the proper order. Examples of MOM include message queues and message brokers.

Remote procedure call (RPC) middleware enables one application to trigger a procedure in another application - running on the same computer or on a different computer or network - as if both were part of the same application on the same computer.

Data or database middleware simplifies access to, and interaction with, back-end databases. Typically database middleware is some form of SQL database server.

API (application programming interface) middleware provides tools developers can use to create, expose and manage APIs for their applications - so that other developers can connect to them. Some API middleware includes tools for monetizing APIs - enabling other organizations to use them, at cost. Examples of API middleware include API management platforms, API gateways and API developer portals.

Object request broker (ORB) middleware acts as broker between a request from one application object or component, and the fulfillment of that request by another object or component on the distributed network. ORBs operate with the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), which enables one software component to make a request of another without knowing where other is hosted, or what its UI looks like - the "brokering" handles this information during the exchange.

Transactional middleware provides services to support the execution of data transactions across a distributed network. The best-known transactional middleware are transaction processing monitors (TPMs), which ensure that transactions proceed from one step to the next - executing the data exchange, adding/changing/deleting data where needed, etc. - through to completion.

Asynchronous data streaming middleware replicates a data stream in an intermediate store, enabling data sharing between multiple applications. Apache Kafka is one of the best-known examples of middleware for real-time data streaming.

Device middleware provides a focused set of integration and connectivity capabilities for developing apps for a specific mobile OS.

Portal middleware provides tools and resources for integrating content and capabilities from various related applications 'at the glass' - or on a single screen - to create a single, composite application.

Robotics middleware simplifies the process of integrating robotic hardware, firmware and software from multiple manufacturers and locations.

Enterprise application integration middleware


Enterprise application integration middleware lets an organization establish an enterprise integration hub - a standardized way to connect all applications, application components, business processes and back-end data sources in the extended enterprise.

Until about ten years ago, the most prevalent enteprise application integration middleware was the enterprise service bus (ESB), which served as the integration hub within a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Today iPaaS lets an organization connect applications, data, processes and services across on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud environments - without the work and expense of purchasing, installing, managing, and maintaining the integration middleware (and the hardware it runs on) within its own data center.

Platform middleware


Platform middleware (or application platform middleware) can further support application development and accelerate application delivery by providing a runtime hosting environment - such as a Java runtime environment (Java RE), or containers, or both - for application or business logic. Platform middleware can include or combine enterprise application servers, web servers, and content management systems, as well as the other middleware types listed above.

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

First WWW server located at CERN with its original sticker that says: "This machine is a server. DO NOT POWER IT DOWN!!"

In computing, a server is a piece of computer hardware or software (computer program) that provides functionality for other programs or devices, called "clients". This architecture is called the client–server model. Servers can provide various functionalities, often called "services", such as sharing data or resources among multiple clients, or performing computation for a client. A single server can serve multiple clients, and a single client can use multiple servers. A client process may run on the same device or may connect over a network to a server on a different device.[1] Typical servers are database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, game servers, and application servers.[2]

Client–server systems are usually most frequently implemented by (and often identified with) the request–response model: a client sends a request to the server, which performs some action and sends a response back to the client, typically with a result or acknowledgment. Designating a computer as "server-class hardware" implies that it is specialized for running servers on it. This often implies that it is more powerful and reliable than standard personal computers, but alternatively, large computing clusters may be composed of many relatively simple, replaceable server components.

History[edit]

The use of the word server in computing comes from queueing theory,[3] where it dates to the mid 20th century, being notably used in Kendall (1953) (along with "service"), the paper that introduced Kendall's notation. In earlier papers, such as the Erlang (1909), more concrete terms such as "[telephone] operators" are used.

In computing, "server" dates at least to RFC 5 (1969),[4] one of the earliest documents describing ARPANET (the predecessor of Internet), and is contrasted with "user", distinguishing two types of host: "server-host" and "user-host". The use of "serving" also dates to early documents, such as RFC 4,[5] contrasting "serving-host" with "using-host".

The Jargon File defines "server" in the common sense of a process performing service for requests, usually remote, with the 1981 (1.1.0) version reading:

SERVER n. A kind of DAEMON which performs a service for the requester, which often runs on a computer other than the one on which the server runs.

Operation[edit]

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

A network based on the client–server model where multiple individual clients request services and resources from centralized servers

Strictly speaking, the term server refers to a computer program or process (running program). Through metonymy, it refers to a device used for (or a device dedicated to) running one or several server programs. On a network, such a device is called a host. In addition to server, the words serve and service (as verb and as noun respectively) are frequently used, though servicer and servant are not.[a] The word service (noun) may refer to either the abstract form of functionality, e.g. Web service. Alternatively, it may refer to a computer program that turns a computer into a server, e.g. Windows service. Originally used as "servers serve users" (and "users use servers"), in the sense of "obey", today one often says that "servers serve data", in the same sense as "give". For instance, web servers "serve [up] web pages to users" or "service their requests".

The server is part of the client–server model; in this model, a server serves data for clients. The nature of communication between a client and server is request and response. This is in contrast with peer-to-peer model in which the relationship is on-demand reciprocation. In principle, any computerized process that can be used or called by another process (particularly remotely, particularly to share a resource) is a server, and the calling process or processes is a client. Thus any general-purpose computer connected to a network can host servers. For example, if files on a device are shared by some process, that process is a file server. Similarly, web server software can run on any capable computer, and so a laptop or a personal computer can host a web server.

While request–response is the most common client-server design, there are others, such as the publish–subscribe pattern. In the publish-subscribe pattern, clients register with a pub-sub server, subscribing to specified types of messages; this initial registration may be done by request-response. Thereafter, the pub-sub server forwards matching messages to the clients without any further requests: the server pushes messages to the client, rather than the client pulling messages from the server as in request-response.[6]

Purpose[edit]

The role of a server is to share data as well as to share resources and distribute work. A server computer can serve its own computer programs as well; depending on the scenario, this could be part of a quid pro quo transaction, or simply a technical possibility. The following table shows several scenarios in which a server is used.

Server type Purpose Clients
Application server Hosts web apps (computer programs that run inside a web browser) allowing users in the network to run and use them, without having to install a copy on their own computers. Unlike what the name might imply, these servers do not need to be part of the World Wide Web; any local network would do. Computers with a web browser
Catalog server Maintains an index or table of contents of information that can be found across a large distributed network, such as computers, users, files shared on file servers, and web apps. Directory servers and name servers are examples of catalog servers. Any computer program that needs to find something on the network, such a Domain member attempting to log in, an email client looking for an email address, or a user looking for a file
Communications server Maintains an environment needed for one communication endpoint (user or devices) to find other endpoints and communicate with them. It may or may not include a directory of communication endpoints and a presence detection service, depending on the openness and security parameters of the network Communication endpoints (users or devices)
Computing server Shares vast amounts of computing resources, especially CPU and random-access memory, over a network. Any computer program that needs more CPU power and RAM than a personal computer can probably afford. The client must be a networked computer; otherwise, there would be no client-server model.
Database server Maintains and shares any form of database (organized collections of data with predefined properties that may be displayed in a table) over a network. Spreadsheets, accounting software, asset management software or virtually any computer program that consumes well-organized data, especially in large volumes
Fax server Shares one or more fax machines over a network, thus eliminating the hassle of physical access Any fax sender or recipient
File server Shares files and folders, storage space to hold files and folders, or both, over a network Networked computers are the intended clients, even though local programs can be clients
Game server Enables several computers or gaming devices to play multiplayer video games Personal computers or gaming consoles
Mail server Makes email communication possible in the same way that a post office makes snail mail communication possible Senders and recipients of email
Media server Shares digital video or digital audio over a network through media streaming (transmitting content in a way that portions received can be watched or listened to as they arrive, as opposed to downloading an entire file and then using it) User-attended personal computers equipped with a monitor and a speaker
Print server Shares one or more printers over a network, thus eliminating the hassle of physical access Computers in need of printing something
Sound server Enables computer programs to play and record sound, individually or cooperatively Computer programs of the same computer and network clients.
Proxy server Acts as an intermediary between a client and a server, accepting incoming traffic from the client and sending it to the server. Reasons for doing so include content control and filtering, improving traffic performance, preventing unauthorized network access or simply routing the traffic over a large and complex network. Any networked computer
Virtual server Shares hardware and software resources with other virtual servers. It exists only as defined within specialized software called hypervisor. The hypervisor presents virtual hardware to the server as if it were real physical hardware.[7] Server virtualization allows for a more efficient infrastructure.[8] Any networked computer
Web server Hosts web pages. A web server is what makes the World Wide Web possible. Each website has one or more web servers. Also, each server can host multiple websites. Computers with a web browser

Almost the entire structure of the Internet is based upon a client–server model. High-level root nameservers, DNS, and routers direct the traffic on the internet. There are millions of servers connected to the Internet, running continuously throughout the world[9] and virtually every action taken by an ordinary Internet user requires one or more interactions with one or more servers. There are exceptions that do not use dedicated servers; for example, peer-to-peer file sharing and some implementations of telephony (e.g. pre-Microsoft Skype).

Hardware[edit]

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

A rack-mountable server with the top cover removed to reveal internal components

Hardware requirement for servers vary widely, depending on the server's purpose and its software. Servers are more often than not, more powerful and expensive than the clients that connect to them.

Since servers are usually accessed over a network, many run unattended without a computer monitor or input device, audio hardware and USB interfaces. Many servers do not have a graphical user interface (GUI). They are configured and managed remotely. Remote management can be conducted via various methods including Microsoft Management Console (MMC), PowerShell, SSH and browser-based out-of-band management systems such as Dell's iDRAC or HP's iLo.

Large servers[edit]

Large traditional single servers would need to be run for long periods without interruption. Availability would have to be very high, making hardware reliability and durability extremely important. Mission-critical enterprise servers would be very fault tolerant and use specialized hardware with low failure rates in order to maximize uptime. Uninterruptible power supplies might be incorporated to guard against power failure. Servers typically include hardware redundancy such as dual power supplies, RAID disk systems, and ECC memory,[10] along with extensive pre-boot memory testing and verification. Critical components might be hot swappable, allowing technicians to replace them on the running server without shutting it down, and to guard against overheating, servers might have more powerful fans or use water cooling. They will often be able to be configured, powered up and down, or rebooted remotely, using out-of-band management, typically based on IPMI. Server casings are usually flat and wide, and designed to be rack-mounted, either on 19-inch racks or on Open Racks.

These types of servers are often housed in dedicated data centers. These will normally have very stable power and Internet and increased security. Noise is also less of a concern, but power consumption and heat output can be a serious issue. Server rooms are equipped with air conditioning devices.

Clusters[edit]

A server farm or server cluster is a collection of computer servers maintained by an organization to supply server functionality far beyond the capability of a single device. Modern data centers are now often built of very large clusters of much simpler servers,[11] and there is a collaborative effort, Open Compute Project around this concept.

Appliances[edit]

A class of small specialist servers called network appliances are generally at the low end of the scale, often being smaller than common desktop computers.

Mobile[edit]

A mobile server has a portable form factor, e.g. a laptop.[12] In contrast to large data centers or rack servers, the mobile server is designed for on-the-road or ad hoc deployment into emergency, disaster or temporary environments where traditional servers are not feasible due to their power requirements, size, and deployment time.[13] The main beneficiaries of so-called "server on the go" technology include network managers, software or database developers, training centers, military personnel, law enforcement, forensics, emergency relief groups, and service organizations.[14] To facilitate portability, features such as the keyboard, display, battery (uninterruptible power supply, to provide power redundancy in case of failure), and mouse are all integrated into the chassis.

Operating systems[edit]

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

Sun's Cobalt Qube 3; a computer server appliance (2002); running Cobalt Linux (a customized version of Red Hat Linux, using the 2.2 Linux kernel), complete with the Apache web server.

On the Internet the dominant operating systems among servers are UNIX-like open-source distributions, such as those based on Linux and FreeBSD,[15] with Windows Server also having a significant share. Proprietary operating systems such as z/OS and macOS Server are also deployed, but in much smaller numbers.

Specialist server-oriented operating systems have traditionally had features such as:

  • GUI not available or optional
  • Ability to reconfigure and update both hardware and software to some extent without restart
  • Advanced backup facilities to permit regular and frequent online backups of critical data,
  • Transparent data transfer between different volumes or devices
  • Flexible and advanced networking capabilities
  • Automation capabilities such as daemons in UNIX and services in Windows
  • Tight system security, with advanced user, resource, data, and memory protection.
  • Advanced detection and alerting on conditions such as overheating, processor and disk failure.[16]

In practice, today many desktop and server operating systems share similar code bases, differing mostly in configuration.

Energy consumption[edit]

In 2010, data centers (servers, cooling, and other electrical infrastructure) were responsible for 1.1-1.5% of electrical energy consumption worldwide and 1.7-2.2% in the United States.[17] One estimate is that total energy consumption for information and communications technology saves more than 5 times its carbon footprint[18] in the rest of the economy by increasing efficiency.

Global energy consumption is increasing due to the increasing demand of data and bandwidth. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) states that data centers used 91 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) electrical energy in 2013 which accounts to 3% of global electricity usage.

Environmental groups have placed focus on the carbon emissions of data centers as it accounts to 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in a year.

See also[edit]

  • Peer-to-peer

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ A CORBA servant is a server-side object to which method calls from remote method invocation are forwarded, but this is an uncommon usage.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Windows Server Administration Fundamentals. Microsoft Official Academic Course. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. 2011. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-0-470-90182-3.
  2. ^ Comer, Douglas E.; Stevens, David L (1993). Vol III: Client-Server Programming and Applications. Internetworking with TCP/IP. West Lafayette, IN: Prentice Hall. pp. 11d. ISBN 978-0-13-474222-9.
  3. ^ Richard A. Henle, Boris W. Kuvshinoff, C. M. Kuvshinoff (1992). Desktop computers: in perspective. Oxford University Press. p. 417. ISBN 9780195070316. Server is a fairly recent computer networking term derived from queuing theory.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  4. ^ Rulifson, Jeff (June 1969). DEL. IETF. doi:10.17487/RFC0005. RFC 5. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  5. ^ Shapiro, Elmer B. (March 1969). Network Timetable. IETF. doi:10.17487/RFC0004. RFC 4. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  6. ^ Using the HTTP Publish-Subscribe Server, Oracle
  7. ^ IT Explained. "Server - Definition and Details". www.paessler.com.
  8. ^ IT Explained. "DNS Server Not Responding". www.dnsservernotresponding.org.
  9. ^ "Web Servers". IT Business Edge. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  10. ^ Li, Huang, Shen, Chu (2010). ""A Realistic Evaluation of Memory Hardware Errors and Software System Susceptibility". Usenix Annual Tech Conference 2010" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2017-01-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Google uncloaks once-secret server". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  12. ^ "Mobile Server, Power to go, EUROCOM Panther 5SE". Archived from the original on 2013-03-17.
  13. ^ "Mobile Server Notebook". 27 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Server-caliber Computer Doubles as a Mobile Workstation".
  15. ^ "Usage statistics and market share of Linux for websites". Retrieved 18 Jan 2013.
  16. ^ "Server Oriented Operating System". Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  17. ^ Markoff, John (31 Jul 2011). "Data Centers Using Less Power Than Forecast, Report Says". NY Times. Retrieved 18 Jan 2013.
  18. ^ "SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age" (PDF). The Climate Group. 6 Oct 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 18 Jan 2013.

Further reading[edit]

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services?

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Servers.

  • Erlang, Agner Krarup (1909). "The theory of probabilities and telephone conversations" (PDF). Nyt Tidsskrift for Matematik B. 20: 33–39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-01.
  • Kendall, D. G. (1953). "Stochastic Processes Occurring in the Theory of Queues and their Analysis by the Method of the Imbedded Markov Chain". The Annals of Mathematical Statistics. 24 (3): 338–354. doi:10.1214/aoms/1177728975. JSTOR 2236285.

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between for clients requests for network services content filter proxy server application container router?

A proxy server is a go‑between or intermediary server that forwards requests for content from multiple clients to different servers across the Internet.

Which term refers to a system or application that acts as a go between?

Proxy server: "An Internet server that acts as a “go-between” for a computer on a local network (secure system) and the open Web.

Which term refers to the step between the account having access and the account being removed from the system?

Which term refers to the step between the account having access and the account being removed from the system? Account disablement.

Which term refers to the matching of a user to an account through previously shared credentials quizlet?

The best algorithms are always public algorithms that have been published for peer review by other cryptographic and mathematical experts. True. Which term refers to the matching of a user to an account through previously shared credentials? Authentication.