DCOM is a Microsoft technology that allows software components to be distributed across multiple servers, enabling enterprise-wide scalability. It was introduced in the late 1990s and is used primarily by organizations using Microsoft products. However, it requires the use of Microsoft technology to function properly and has been largely replaced by more flexible web services software.
For the last few decades, computer scientists have been working to improve overall computer performance by using distributed component technology. The Distributed Components Object Model (DCOM) was created by Microsoft® to enable the distribution of Microsoft® software components across multiple computer servers. This technology allows servers to be grouped together in an enterprise, creating massive enterprise-wide scalability.
The distributed component object model was first introduced with the Windows® NT operating system in the late 1990s. This technology was a progressive addition to the standard Common Object Model (COM) framework used in most Microsoft® software applications. While the COM framework provided a method for accessing multiple applications from one machine, it didn’t work with external machines on a corporate network.
Sharing of software components and services is standard practice on the Internet today. Some examples can be seen on travel booking sites that link to hotels, airlines and car rental agencies. This technology allows computers to share software applications across multiple networks. The distributed component object model is the technology that makes many Microsoft® applications work over a network.
There are many competing technologies similar to the Microsoft® Distributed Component Object Model. These technologies include COM, COM+, and web services. DCOM is primarily used by organizations using Microsoft® products.
One of the drawbacks of using the distributed component object model is the need to use the entire collection of Microsoft® products to support these components. This includes the Windows® operating system, web servers and database layer. DCOM is a Microsoft® proprietary and requires the underlying Microsoft® technology to function properly.
DCOM is considered an inter-process communication level technology. Allows one computer to access another application on a separate computer on the network. This allows sharing of applications across multiple servers.
Most companies have evolved from using DCOM and COM technologies to more progressive web services software. This type of software is more flexible than standard DCOM because it can run multiple software configurations and hardware platforms. This is essential for software on the Internet because external clients are usually more generic.
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