Object-Oriented Client/Server Internet Environments - Hardcover

Umar, Amjad

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0133755444 ISBN 13: 9780133755442

Publisher: Pearson College Div, 1997

Synopsis

This book systematically answers critical management and technical questions about the modern IT infrastructure, in particular, middleware. Among the topics covered are: distributed object technologies such as CORBA, OLE/ActiveX, and OpenDoc; middleware for the World Wide Web such as Web browsers, Web gateways, and Java; middleware for remote SQL, such as SQL gateways, ODBC and DRDA; network operating systems such as OSF DCE; client/server transaction processing middleware, and middleware for mobile, groupware, legacy access, and distributed multimedia applications. For information systems management, programmers, systems analysts, and other computing professionals.

About this title

From the Publisher:

This book presents a systematic approach to engineering new applications and databases, and reengineering existing terminal-host systems in an object-oriented, client/server world. This book is a guide and tutorial for information technology professionals involved in engineering or reengineering systems. Among the topics it covers are: object-oriented client/server applications, legacy data access, data warehousing, enterprise data architectures, application software architectures, transitioning of legacy applications, and methodologies for managing new and existing databases and applications. For information systems management, programmers, systems analysts, and other computing professionals.

From the Inside Flap:

Preface

Book Objectives and Highlights

The basic premise of this book is that the applications of today and tomorrow will be increasingly based on three fundamental technologies: object orientation, client/server, and Internet (especially World Wide Web). The focus of this book is on the infrastructure (environment) that supports these applications (we call this, for a lack of better term, the object-oriented client/server Internet environment). In particular, we concentrate on the complex and crucial enabling technologies known as "middleware." These technologies provide business-unaware services to enable the modern distributed applications and services. There is no "one size fits all" solution at present; thus the modern environments will continue to consist of numerous middleware components such as Web browsers, SQL servers, client/server transaction processors, OSF/DCE, CORBA, OLE, mobile computing middleware, distributed-multimedia middleware, Lotus Notes, workflow software, and mediators ("surround technologies") for access/integration of legacy systems. Therefore, it is extremely important to concentrate on interrelationships instead of detailed discussion of one topic.

The objective of this book is to discuss the key enabling technologies, their characteristics, and their interrelationships. Our particular focus is on middleware, owing to its importance and complexity. We will define middleware, establish its role, discuss the key players in the middleware field, and show how the middleware components interrelate with other building blocks such as network services and applications. The book is intended as a guide and a tutorial for the IT managers and practitioners who are involved in IT engineering and reengineering. It has been, and can be, used as a text or a reference book in university courses. The topics discussed are shown in the sidebar "Book Outline."

·A framework for discussion is introduced early to serve as a roadmap for study and to guide the analysis and synthesis of the existing and evolving technologies.
·Tutorials on network technologies and object-oriented concepts are included so that the book can be used by experienced professionals as well as novices.
·A single case study is introduced in the first chapter and developed throughout the book to illustrate the topics discussed. Hints and outline solutions are suggested for the case study. In addition, several other examples and case studies are included in each chapter.
·Each chapter highlights key points and includes several sidebars for quick study.
·Each chapter concludes with a discussion of state of the market (e.g., available products), state of the practice (e.g., case studies and examples), and state of the art (e.g., standards and continuing research).
·Each chapter is written as a self-contained tutorial with numerous references for additional studies.

The readers of this book should be able to develop an understanding of the key components of the object-oriented client/server Internet environments, the interrelationships between its components, and their role in enabling the modern distributed enterprises.
This book can be used as a guide to modern distributed computing platforms. However, discussion of application issues is beyond its scope. A companion book Application (Re)Engineering: Building Web-based Applications and Dealing with Legacies, Prentice Hall concentrates on application issues and covers topics such as methodology for application engineering/reengineering, Web-based application development considerations, enterprise data architectures, software application architectures, strategies to deal with legacy applications, Web access and integration of legacy systems, data warehouses, and application migration/transition issues. These two are intended as complimentary books.

Intended Audience and Recommended Usage

This book is based on a synthesis of experience gained from three different sources. First, extensive project-management, consulting, and system-integration assignments in the recent years in client/server systems, object-oriented technologies, Web-based applications, middleware evaluation, legacy data access, data warehousing, and data migration. Second, development and teaching of industrial training courses on client/server technologies and distributed systems that have been taught several times in the telecommunications industry and general IT community. Finally, teaching of graduate-level special- topics courses in distributed systems for IT majors and computer-science students. This experience indicates that this book should be useful as a reference for most IT managers and practitioners and also as a textbook for university courses and industrial training seminars. Specifically, this book should be of value to:
·Architects and designers of information services (application designers, database designers, network designers).
·Analysts and consultants of information technologies.
·Planners of IT infrastructure and platforms.
·Technical-support personnel.
·Managers of information technologies (CIO, MIS managers, database administrators, application- development managers).
·System integrators who combine databases, networks, and application among platforms.
·Teachers of university courses in information technologies.
·Technical trainers for professional-development courses in information technologies.
·Researchers in information technologies who need a broad coverage of the subject matter.
·Students for an introduction to the subject matter with numerous references for additional studies.
Depending on the reader's background and interest, the book can be used in a variety of ways. Perhaps the best way is to go through it sequentially and read the tutorials in Part III on an as-needed basis.

Two suggested outlines follow: one for a university course and one for a two-day professional training course. These outlines are based on experience of teaching several university courses and industrial seminars in the recent years (topics have naturally evolved over time). To assure a clear understanding, these courses are very case-study/project intensive.
University Course Outline: Modern Distributed Computing Platforms:
Week/Topic/Reading :

1/Introduction/Chapter 1
2/Network Technologies/Chapter 11
3/Network Architectures/Chapter 11
4/IT Building Blocks/Chapter 2
5/Basic Client/Server and OSF DCE/Chapter 3
6/Internet and World Wide Web/Chapter 4
7/Distributed-Data Management/Chapter 5
8/Midterm Examination (or Project 1 Due)
9/Client/Server Transaction Processing/Chapter 6
10/Object-Oriented Concepts/Chapter 10
11/Distributed Object Technologies/Chapter 7
12/Emerging Technologies (Mobile Computing,Groupware, Distributed Multimedia)/Chapter 8
13/Synthesis/Chapter 9
14/Conclusions and Wrapup
15/Final Examination (or Project 2 Due)

Professional Training Course: Emerging Distributed Computing Technologies:

Session/Topic/Duration/Reading:
1/Introduction/1 Hour/Chapter 1
2/Network Technologies and Architectures/2 Hours/Chapter 11
3/IT Building Blocks /1.5 Hour/Chapter 2
4/Basic Client/Server and OSF DCE/1.5 Hour/Chapter 3
5/Internet and World Wide Web/1.5 Hour/Chapter 4
6/Distributed-Data Management/1 Hour/Chapter 5
7/Client/Server Transaction Processing/1 Hour/Chapter 6
8/Object-Oriented Concepts and Distributed Object Technologies/2 Hours/Chapter 10 & Chapter 7
9/Emerging Technologies (Mobile Computing,Groupware, Distributed Multimedia)/1 Hour/Chapter 8
10/Synthesis/0.5 Hour/Chapter 9
11/Case Studies and Wrapup/1 Hour

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson College Div
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0133755444
• ISBN 13: 9780133755442
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 527