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Date:      Wed, 11 Apr 2001 11:41:38 -0600
From:      Duke Normandin <01031149@3web.net>
To:        Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm@toybox.placo.com>
Cc:        FreeBSD <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
Subject:   Re: BSDi Acquired by Embedded Computing Firm Wind River
Message-ID:  <20010411114137.B210161@mandy.rockingd.calgary.ab.ca>
In-Reply-To: <000201c0c242$d71ff600$1401a8c0@tedm.placo.com>; from "Ted Mittelstaedt" on Tue, Apr 10, 2001 at 09:49:49PM
References:  <20010410113403.C206595@mandy.rockingd.calgary.ab.ca> <000201c0c242$d71ff600$1401a8c0@tedm.placo.com>

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On Tue, Apr 10, 2001 at 09:49:49PM -0700, Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
> 
> In the UNIX way, the presentation apps are programs like window
> managers, web browsers, etc.  In the Windows way, the presentation
> apps are programs like wordprocessors, spreadsheets, etc.  In the
> Windows method, slightly more processing is moved from the server to the
> desktop, but really, it's insignificant when you consider how much of
> the Windows OS is concerned with UI junk like dancing paper clips.

Quite honestly? I'm more confused with the terminology then before I
asked the question. No matter! I have a few books/articles here.

In "How Networks Work", by F.J. Derfler, Jr. and Les Freed, Chap. 18,
"Server-Based LANs", the authors refer to the PCs hung off the Server as
Clients. In Part 5 "Workgroup Applications", they point out that "the term
client/server has a slightly different context..." -- which I understand!
For example, Apache(web server) running on the Server; Netscape(web
client/browser) running on a Client.  mySQL(server) on the Server; a CGI
script on the Client. Am I close?

So...in a "Server-Based LAN" the term "desktop" refers to a PC which may
often-times run "client"-type software? AND that the term "desktop" is
synonomous with the term "Client"? As well, the distinction between the
term "Workstation" and "desktop" and/or "Client" is merely one of "quality
of hardware" -- that in fact, a "Workstation" *is* a "Client"/"desktop"
hung off a Server? 

To complicate the issue ;) .... I suppose that "server" software doesn't
necessarly *have* to be running on the "Server". It could just as well be
running on a big-buck Workstation-- no?

Now... for the distinction you make (above) between Windows and Unix --
say that I have a win95 box hung off a FreeBSD gateway box, the latter
sporting Apache and mySQL. Throw in a third box into this LAN - a FreeBSD
"Client" with StarOffice, Netscape, Mutt and a few odds an ends. I build
a private Website to be served on the "gateway"/"Server" box by
Apache/mySQL. What differences would I observe when I accessed the
Website from the win95 box compared to accessing same from the FreeBSD
"desktop" box? Netscape on the FreeBSD box, and IE on the win95 box are
both "presentation"/"client" apps. So where's the diff? I'm not seeing
something I'm sure!
-- 
-duke

Calgary, Alberta, Canada


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