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Date:      Wed, 11 Apr 2001 23:49:24 -0500
From:      Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.org>
To:        Duke Normandin <01031149@3web.net>
Cc:        questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: BSDi Acquired by Embedded Computing Firm Wind River
Message-ID:  <15061.13268.347161.47426@guru.mired.org>
In-Reply-To: <117124895@toto.iv>

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Duke Normandin <01031149@3web.net> types:
> 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?

CGI scripts run on the server, not the client. JavaScript runs on the
client.

> 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?

Or an el-cheapo box built out of spare parts. I have one server on a
book pc, just to conserve space.

> 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!

The difference is that the FreeBSD client will be more stable,
reliable, and deliver better bang/buck. Having helped run some fairly
large Unix installations, I'd say that Ted's characterization of Unix
workstations is flawed. The only real difference between using Unix on
the desktop - even FreeBSD - and using Windows is the applications
selections.

	<mike
--
Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.org>			http://www.mired.org/home/mwm/
Independent WWW/Perforce/FreeBSD/Unix consultant, email for more information.

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