A thin client server handles more of its clients’ operations than a standard server, often used in offices where workers don’t need much functionality or power. Thin clients lack parts of a fat client, and instead have scaled-down systems or routing boxes. The server does all the processing for the terminals, resulting in a virtual system for the user. It works well for simple computer access but not for strenuous tasks.
A thin client server is a specially designed system that handles a larger portion of its clients’ operations than a standard server. These servers will take care of operations that most users would typically associate with a local computer, such as saving files, processing information, or even maintaining the operating system. A thin client server system is often used in situations where a worker’s computer doesn’t need a huge amount of functionality or power, a common situation in most offices.
In this situation, a client is a terminal connected to a server and often used as a workstation by an employee. There are two basic types of customers: thin and fat. A fat-client contains a complete computer at the worker’s location. This client has drives, local software, internal processing power, and all the other things typically associated with a computer.
Thin clients lack some or none of the parts of a fat client. Instead of a computer at the worker’s desk, there could be anything from a scaled-down system, to an external drive bay, or just a simple routing box. This difference in local clutter gives the two types of clients their names.
Since many of the things used in a standard computer are missing on the terminal side, they are present on the thin client server side. Even if all the parts are present, they are usually much more efficient when they are part of the larger server system. For example, instead of having a full hard drive on every worker’s desk, a thin client server will have a single large drive partitioned for each user. Users will each have their own personal spaces, but they are all in the same location.
In addition to providing basic hardware, a thin client server can do much more. Some of these servers do all the processing for their terminals. When the user sends a command, such as “Open a spreadsheet,” the command goes to the server for execution. The server processes the command and sends the result to the client. This is especially common when the server also contains programming used by the system.
This relationship often results in a totally virtual system for the user. While it may appear that the operator is on a regular computer, the whole process is happening somewhere else and the operator is just watching and entering commands. It works very well when a client needs simple computer access, such as email, web browsing, or standard office document creation, but not as well for other things. When a computer needs to perform a strenuous task, such as video editing or virtual design, a standard fat client usually works best.
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