[Sussex] Why is a web based solution better than using a client/server approach?

[Paul Turner]

Brendan Whelan wrote:

> Hello,
>
> A general question - Why is a web based solution better than using a 
> client/server approach?
>
It's not necessarily, it depends on what your application does :-)  A 
more advanced UI can be developed far easier with a desktop application, 
and it can also integrate with other applications more seamlessly, but 
for a lot of database applications this is not required.

> We have an application for use primarily in Hospitals labs but other 
> users in the Hospital, and possible GPs on the NHSnet, will also want 
> to access the information. We are very happy with using Linux, Apache, 
> MySQL and PHP and have shown the approach to be both practical and 
> cost effective. I have been asked, by a company we work with, how can 
> we convince prospective customers that the web approach is better than 
> using client/server systems.
>
> I have though of the following drawbacks to client/server:
>   Each PC needs to have the application installed by the supplier or 
> the Hospital's IT department.
>   Upgrades need to be done to each PC by the supplier or the IT 
> department.
>   More processing power is needed in each PC.
>   Proprietary operating systems are expensive and upgrades need to be 
> installed periodically.
>   There will be more network traffic hence slowing down the response time.
>

Also the database server will probably need to more powerful as 
traditional client/server applications involve a permanent database 
connection,  whereas the web based solution only has a database 
connection for the length of each request, and the number of concurrent 
users on the database is usually far less.  We have a 120+ user system 
here that rarely peaks at more than 10 concurrent connections.

If most of the users screen are idle a lot of the time then a web based 
solution is far more cost/network effiecient.

> In favour of web technology:
>   Only basic PCs, with Internet Explorer, are needed.
>   Should their own PC fail then users can move to another one anywhere 
> on the network
>   No special network or cabling is needed.
>   Web technology is advancing more rapidly than client/server.
>   Updates are only needed on the central server.
>
> Any suggestions and links to report will be welcomed.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Brendan
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sussex mailing list
>Sussex at mailman.lug.org.uk
>Sussex LUG Website: http://www.sussex.lug.org.uk/
>http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/sussex
>


-- 

*/Paul Turner/*
Applications Team Leader
*Rentokil Initial* Corporate IT


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information in this message is confidential and may be privileged. It is 
intended solely for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are 
not the intended recipient, please notify the sender, and please delete 
the message from your system immediately.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


 

_____________________________________________________________________
This message has been checked for all known viruses by 
MessageLabs on behalf of Rentokil Initial plc