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ClockWatch in a Client - Server Environment
ClockWatch can be used in a client server environment whereby ClockWatch Server is both servicing the time requests from workstations running ClockWatch Client while keeping the server it is running on set to the correct time by connecting to timeservers over the public network.
Client/Server Architecture
- Client-Server is a type of distributed application architecture that connects a computer workstation (client) to one host computer (server).
Server normally runs continuously, waiting for client queries
Clients may run ad hoc, requesting time synchronization services from the server at any time.
Why Use Client/Server?
Simply put, client/server means that there is an intelligent workstation client accessing a central timeserver, The ClockWatch Server software handles the application processing on the server, while another edition of software, ClockWatch Client, handles the end-user interface processing on the client.
The ClockWatch workstation client's job is to accept input from the user, send requests to the ClockWatch host, format and display responses from the host. The ClockWatch host server's job is to keep the time accurate on the host and to process requests and send appropriate responses. All interaction with external timeservers is done by the host server. The communication link with the clients must be a network (e.g. Ethernet) connection.
The advantages of this approach are:
Your ClockWatch workstation clients handle the task of interacting with the user, so the load on your ClockWatch host server is reduced.
Since clients don't need to talk to timeservers on the Internet, Internet traffic is reduced and the integrity of corporate firewalls is maintained.
Your ClockWatch workstation clients can be easily tailored for different options. For example, a traveling laptop can be set up differently from a permanent desktop computer.
The application architecture is very scalable - one host server can handle 1-2000 different clients.
There are two timeserver options for implementing ClockWatch client/server:
You can use ClockWatch for both your host server and workstation clients. Your time synchronization processing is done on one computer, while your ClockWatch workstation clients are separate PCs running ClockWatch Client on Windows 95 / 98 / NT.
You can run your ClockWatch workstation clients and your regular Daytime host server.
Connecting ClockWatch Server to ClockWatch Client
Server is installed as an application or an NT service on the computer to serve as the enterprise wide timeserver.
Server is listening on the LAN / WAN for client requests.
Server makes periodic calls to external timeserver to keep time accurate on the computer it is running on. To make the connection it uses the native Internet connection or dials the timeserver directly over the phone line.
Independently, a workstation running ClockWatch Client requests time from Server over the LAN or WAN using the sockets protocol.
Server responds to each client with correct time, logging client request.
Client adjusts time for time zone and sets internal clock to correct time.
Connecting Beagle Software Clients Over a Network
Using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network communications software you can connect your networked ClockWatch workstation clients to your host server in any way that allows a socket type connection between client and host.
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