RE: Free OS/400

[Scott Klement <klemscot@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 29 Jun 2001, Jim Damato wrote:
> 
> What server DOES provide a graphical user interface for its clients?  If
> you're running an Unix, Linux, VMS, 390, or even NT server is any server OS
> providing a distributed graphical user interface?  These days the client
> interface is the function and responsibility of the client or terminal, or
> some layered "terminal server" product.
> 

Actually, in X11 (the Unix/BSD/Linux GUI) you can do a "distributed" GUI,
i.e. run a graphical program on the server-side, and just have the output
be displayed on the client-side.

However, (and perhaps this is what you're driving at) it's far more common
to use the "client/server" approach, where a client program is actually
installed on the client end, and does the processing, then just connects
to the server to get the data.

From the perspective of maintaining business applications, the first
option is vastly superior, however.   It's MUCH easier to make a change
in one place, and test it in one environment...    

Of course, Windows does not natively support this type of functionality,
so it's not widely used.   And that's the real problem...   Windows is,
like it or not, a monopoly.   You HAVE to use it.  You can't realistically
run a business without it.   Therefore, everything else is at a serious
disadvantage...



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