|
 An introduction |
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| How Does a Client/Server
Database Work? |
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Conventional Networking |
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| Client/Server Networking |
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| Advantage Database Server |
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| Costs |
|
| Any Questions? |
|
| An introduction |
|
| How Does a Client/Server
Database Work? |
|
|
Conventional Networking |
|
| Client/Server Networking |
|
| Advantage Database Server |
|
| Costs |
|
| Any Questions? |
MTrack Client/Server Version- An Introduction
If you have a large database and/or five or more people using MTrack at the same time, you will want the power, reliability and security of client/server computing. The client server version changes the way your computer server interacts with the workstations. This results in following benefits:
- Increased speed in all operations
- Improved security from data corruption caused by power failures or system crashes
- Reduction in network traffic
- Strength to handle the needs of a growing database
- All at an affordable price
How Does a Client/Server Database Work?
In order to understand the benefits of client server computing the following examines the workings of a conventional networking setup versus a client/server setup.
Conventional Networking
A typical networked database is kept in 100-300 different data and index files which are stored on a file server (the "server") acting as a shared hard drive. The workstation (the "client") reads information from the server, processes the data on the workstation and writes any changes back to the server. The files are transported backwards and forwards repeatedly over the network throughout this process. In order to maintain integrity the network operating system establishes "locks" so that only one client at a time can write to a data or index file. As the number of users increase and the contention for shared files increases, the system throughput plummets as clients line up trying and retrying for locks.
In addition, because each client is independently reading and writing data and index files over the network, the system is vulnerable. If, in the middle of writing to a file, a client machine is interrupted due to power failure, network failure or user error, the database can become corrupted with potentially disastrous consequences.
Client/Server Networking
With client/server networking, all database operations are intelligently divided between the file server and the workstation. By processing requests on the server where data is stored instead of the workstation, only the required information is sent over the network and not the files. Network traffic is reduced by over 75%. An intelligent lock management system allows simultaneous multi-user index and data access. Tasks are completed in a shorter time and interruptions on a workstation will not corrupt the data on the server.
One user, who has a database of 235,000 records, found it took almost 2 minutes to access a record over its conventional network. Installing Advantage Database Server reduced this to 2.04 seconds!
Advantage Database Server
MTrack’s Client Server version utilizes the Advantage Database Server Engine from Extended Systems, which able us to offer you a client/server package at a fraction of the cost of competing products. Advantage Database Server is trusted around the world for mission-critical applications and has an installed base of over 100,000 users including such companies such as UPS, Laidlaw, Dell, Pratt & Whitney, Charles Schwab, Jostens and many more.
Advantage integrates into existing LAN environments with minimal impact. A dedicated PC is not required and over 50 users can be supported with just 2 Megabytes of server memory used by the application itself. Many competing products require up to 2 Megabytes per user! No disk partitioning, reformatting or data porting is required and you can continue to use existing back up and file maintenance tools. Only minimal new training is required.
Don’t hesitate to contact us regarding the MTrack Client/Server version.
Inquiries: mtrack@shaw.ca
