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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, and 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).
  

• A 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.