Test&Track | 05 - Thin vs Thick Client Computing

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Level

Advanced (A Level)

Topic

13 - Client Server Thin Thick Client

Test

05 - Thin vs Thick Client Computing

Thin vs Thick Client Computing

A thin client is software that is primarily designed to communicate with a server. Its features are produced by servers such as a cloud platform. A thick client is software that implements its own features. It may connect to servers but it remains mostly functional when disconnected.

Thin Clients

Thick Clients

- Easy to deploy as they require no extra or specialized software installation

- Needs to validate with the server after data capture

- If the server goes down, data collection is halted as the client needs constant communication with the server

- Cannot be interfaced with other equipment (in plants or factory settings for example)

- Clients run only and exactly as specified by the server

- More downtime

-Portability in that all applications are on the server so any workstation can access

- Opportunity to use older, outdated PCs as clients

- Reduced security threat

- More expensive to deploy and more work for IT to deploy

- Data verified by client not server (immediate validation)

- Robust technology provides better uptime

- Only needs intermittent communication with server

- More expensive to deploy and more work for IT to deploy

- Require more resources but less servers

- Can store local files and applications

- Reduced server demands

- Increased security issues

Key Terms To Understanding Storage Servers:

Client
The client part of a client-server architecture. Typically, a client is an application that runs on a personal computer or workstation and relies on a server to perform some operations.

Server
A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks.

Client/server architecture
A network architecture in which each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server.