CSC 546: Client/Server Fundamentals
Fall 2000

6:15 - 9:00 Thu
411 Old Gymnasium



Prof. Dave Reed
215 Old Gymnasium        x2583
DaveReed@creighton.edu

Office hours: M 1-4, TTh 2-4 or by appointment

Text: Introduction to Client/Server Systems (2nd ed.), Paul E. Renaud, Wiley Computer Publishing, 1996.


Course Description

Client/server computing is a model in which computation is divided among distinct processes, some acting as clients that request services and others acting as servers that provide those services. For example, a database server might maintain centralized inventory and sales records for a company, which can then be accessed and updated over a network by clients in various departments. Compared to traditional mainframe computing models, client/server systems often represent dramatic improvements in usability, flexibility, interoperability, and scalability.

The specific goals of this course are:


Required Work

There will be 5-8 homework assignments, some involving programming or application development. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified. Late assignments will receive 75% of full credit if they are handed in within one week of the specified due date. After one week, no credit will be given. In addition, there will be weekly quizzes, a midterm exam and a cumulative final exam.

Grades will be determined as follows:

homework assignments 40 %
weekly quizzes 10 %
midterm exam 20 %
(cumulative) final exam 30 %


Policy on Collaboration

The college policy on cheating and plagiarism is spelled out in the Student Handbook. In addition to this, the following guidelines hold pertaining to programs. Programs are to be the sole work of the student -- collaboration on the design or coding of a program is not allowed. Students may seek debugging assistance or clarifications on assigments using the class mailing list ONLY.

Repeat: All student interactions regarding homework assignments must take place via the class mailing list!


Tentative Schedule

DATE
TOPICS
READINGS
HOMEWORK
Aug 24
introduction, overview
 
(html)
(pdf)
Chapter 1
Aug 31
business pressures, technology
enterprise computing
(html)
(pdf)
Chapters 2, 3 and 4
Sep 7
client/server communications
 
(html)
(pdf)
Chapter 9 HW1: due 9/28
Sep 14
HTTP and the Web
server-side programming
(html)
(pdf)
online1 and online2
Sep 21
C++ programming
 
(code)
 
221/222 text or
Astrachan or Eckel
Sep 28
client/server protocols
 
(html)
(pdf)
Chapter 10 HW2: due 10/12
Oct 5
sockets
review
(html)
(pdf)
Oct 12
MIDTERM EXAM
Oct 19
FALL BREAK
Oct 26
management aspects,
economics & other issues
(html)
(pdf)
Chapters 5, 6-8 HW3: due 11/9
Nov 2
in-class exercise
 
(code)
 
Nov 9
communicating objects,
CORBA, COM
(html)
(pdf)
Chapter 14 HW4: due 11/16
Nov 16
relational databases,
SQL, SQL API's
(html)
(pdf)
Chapters 11 and 12
Nov 23
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov 30
SQL API's (cont.),
networked SQL
(html)
(pdf)
Chapter 13 HW5: due 12/7
Dec 7
implementation aspects,
course overview
(html)
(pdf)
Chapters 15 and 16
Dec 14
FINAL EXAM Check your grades