Re: configuration of c/s application

[Pete Hall <peteh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>Dan,
>
>In a message dated 98-01-13 15:07:04 EST, you write:
>
>> This is our project in a nutshell - Visual Basic-developed applications on
>>  a Win 95/NT client, possibly downloaded from a file server, pointing to an
>>  AS/400 via Client Access and TCP/IP and accessing databases via ODBC.  Our
>>  group is now thinking about the network architecture and they are asking me
>>  questions.  Some think we load Client Access on an NT file server and have
>>  all clients "funnel" through that connection to the AS/400.  This can be
>>  done, I'm sure, but I wonder if it is the most efficient method, especially
>>  because users may number in the hundreds.  Should the VB application reside
>>  on the PC instead, communicating directly with the AS/400?  If so, how best
>>  to communicate with the AS/400 across the WAN?  Is it good to have Client
>>  Access on dozens or hundreds of PCs talking to one AS/400?

Maintenance of hundreds of VB applications must be a consideration as well. 
Don't forget that when you install the app, you will need to install all of the 
required dll and ocx files, along with ODBC, and OLE (you cannot rely on OLE 
being up to a working level on any PC running the retail version of Win95, and 
don't forget to make sure that service pack 1 is installed). Once you've done 
this, you can begin to consider whether you want the user to download the 
250+kb main executable each time they want to run it. You also need to consider 
the impact of client hardware failures (it doesn't work since they replaced my 
hard drive).

Or, you could junk VB and write it in Java, which IMHO is much better suited 
for a distributed tiered application. The Java 1.1 stuff can be added-in to 
down-level clients like Netscape V3 and IE4. It is available on the net for 
free. Depending on your relationship with the user, it could be the user's 
responsibility to make it work. Some of the java stuff is a little bleeding 
edge too, but it's coming along very quickly. JDBC is available via JDBC/ODBC 
bridge if not natively. 

I wouldn't suggest that you should junk VB, but I know what I'm going to do the 
next time I need to write something like this.

Pete


Pete Hall
peteh@inwave.com 
http://www.inwave.com/~peteh/

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