Keywords
Citation
Poulter, D. (1998), "3-Tier Client/Server at Work", Internet Research, Vol. 8 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/intr.1998.17208eaf.012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited
3-Tier Client/Server at Work
3-Tier Client/Server at Work
Jeri Edwards, with Deborah DeVoe1997John Wiley & SonsNew York237 pp.0-471-18443-8, $22.99. Available: Wiley Computer Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Professional, Reference and Trade Group, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012.
Keywords Client-server, Computing
Client/server applications have matured today beyond the simple 2-tier models of only a few years ago to N-tiers applications today. The author of 3-Tier Client/Server at Work, Jeri Edwards, explains exactly what makes up a 3-tier application. These fundamentals are easily applied to more complex N-tiered applications. In addition the author gives eight varied case studies of 3-tier applications.
The first section of the book explains what a tier is and is not. It also covers when an N-tier environment should be used and why. In addition, the author gives a few hints as to how an N-tier application should be constructed to give the best performance. Transaction processing monitors monitors (TP) and object request brokers (ORBs) are explained, together with their use in a 3-tier application environment. The remainder of the first section of the book goes into some depth about the Tuxedo TP monitor and its wide use. This explanation becomes extremely important since Tuxedo is used the case studies.
The second section of the book goes through each case study and examines what was done, how it was done and what pitfalls should be avoided when performing a similar task. The case studies come from such organisations as the UK employment service, Peoplesoft, Wells Fargo Bank, Apple, MCI, 3M, and AT&T.
The last section of the book gives a quick overview as well as some advice with the introduction of 3-tier applications into an organisation. In addition, this section gives suggestions for locating additional information. Although many of the ideas discussed are adapted from The Essential Client/Server Survival Guide (2nd ed.), by Orfali, Harkey, and Edwards (Wiley, 1996), the case studies are an excellent resource.
Dale PoulterSystems ManagerInformation Technology Services Department,Texas Tech University Library,Texas Tech University