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 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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