NonStop Systems Introduction

The Application Server Environment

NonStop Systems Introduction— 527825-001

3-10

Client Handling

The client tier runs the presentation portion of an application. The application server

provides tools and application programming interfaces (APIs) for developing the client

applications and enables the clients to access the server-side applications residing on

the NonStop server. The application server environment manages the communications

between multiple clients and multiple servers.

Clients can be web browsers, desktop applications, wireless devices, and other client

types. The application server handles the communications between these devices and

the server applications. Figure 3-6 on page 3-10 shows some of the diverse client

types that an application server must support.

The application server environment provides programs and tools used by the system

administrator to configure, start, stop, and monitor the server application. The

environment also provides the facilities needed for smooth and efficient

communications between client and server applications, including communication

protocols and data formatting. These tools and facilities free the administrator from

worrying about the external communications environment. The administrator can add

clients, servers, and communications lines to the configuration shown in Figure 3-6 on

page 3-10 without affecting the application. The application server environment

handles the routing of requests from all clients to the appropriate server.

Figure 3-6. Client Types

vst021.vsd

ATM

Web browsers

PCs and laptops

Point-of-sale device

Wireless devices

Application server

Applications