Chapter 3
Oracle8 Network Computing

by Cameron O'Rourke

In This Chapter

•  The Emergence of Network Computing

•  Emerging Technologies

•  An Architecture for Network Computing

•  The Network Computer

This chapter focuses on how Oracle fits into the emerging world of network computing. First, the industry factors that have led up to network computing are discussed; then you survey some of the enabling technologies. This will be followed by an overview of Oracle’s Network Computing Architecture and supporting products, and finally, some words on the Network Computer.

The Emergence of Network Computing

The information industry is maturing, and network computing is the convergence of much that we have learned during the last 30 years of computing. In this section, you explore the impact of new technology and other unique conditions that have brought about network computing.

Convergence

Since departments in large organizations began to purchase minicomputers to supplement the services provided by the glass house, information managers have been in a struggle to balance the needs of the enterprise with the needs of the user. The arrival of the personal computer further added to the conflict by setting new expectations for graphical interfaces, personal control, and ease of use. As shown in Figure 3.1, many information managers feel that the priorities have shifted in ways that are unhealthy for the enterprise.

Figure 3.1.  Are we unbalanced?

Now we are in the midst of a new convergence of attitudes and technology, as shown in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2.  A convergence of circumstances that open the way for network computing.

First, there is a unique set of conditions in the information industry. Both users and information managers now have some experience with, and an understanding of, the limitations of existing technology:

•  Many businesses have begun to look closely at the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their personal computer purchases. Some are putting off upgrades until a better alternative can be found.

•  Some businesses have found that an unintended consequence of having lots of low-cost servers is astronomical management costs. The topic of server consolidation is popular at seminars and in magazine articles. Perhaps coincidentally, mainframe computers are selling better than ever.

•  The Web has shown end users how they can get real value by using services provided for them on a network. There may be some alternative to do-it-yourself computing.

Second, there is a wave of emerging technology that is network-centric, object-oriented, and based on standards. For the first time we have industrywide, vendor-neutral standards for data formats, code, middleware, and components. This could be as significant as interchangeable parts were to the industrial revolution, or as the integrated circuit was for the electronics industry.

These events signal a major shift that represents a maturing of the information industry, because a new style of computing, called network computing, is emerging.

Network computing represents the best of the last 30 years of computing technology. Some have called it the fourth great wave of computing (see Figure 3.3). Whether this proves true or not, network computing is refreshing, because the industry is addressing the practical needs of the enterprise, rather than simply hyping the latest new technology.

Figure 3.3.  Four generations of computing.

Network computing promises to finally put an end to the struggle between the needs of the enterprise and the needs of the user, and is computing’s next big evolutionary step.

The Web Changes Everything

It is amazing to consider the very rapid and wide-scale adoption of the Web. The Web is a great example of the social, cultural, and economic explosion that can take place, given an open standard.

From the Web, users get what they want: information, immediacy, ease-of-use, communications, and collaboration. Enterprises get what they want: a single point of control, low cost, simple administration, easier maintenance, better security, and at least a shot at systems reliability and scalability.

Whole new categories of information and services have been created. Web-enabled office suites now allow easy document publishing. Many businesses are quickly Web-enabling their internal applications. Why? Because everyone has a browser, it is easy to use, and it requires a minimum of hassle.

This underscores a big point: Most people simply need access to information, and they need to communicate. Most people don’t need large amounts of personal computational power (except, perhaps, software developers, artists, and scientists); they need better access.

Prior to the Web, the only way for two computers to talk to each other was by prior arrangement. The Web, based on vendor-neutral networking standards, has made it effortless and transparent to fetch data from any location in the world.

Yet the Web is based on relatively simple technology.

Imagine what might happen if program components were as mobile as HTML and as transparent to invoke as Web pages? What if software components could easily collaborate and recombine over the Web to form more complex applications?

This is only the beginning. Vendors of network computing technology are currently integrating new technologies to deploy mission-critical applications to the Web. The future of the Web will be based on plug-and-play mobile components that will enable the next wave of “killer applications.”

Pitfalls of PC Computing

Personal computers have many desirable properties, but few would argue that the PC was architected for enterprise computing. The PC was designed for personal productivity; adapting it to become a good network citizen and work in a large organizational environment has been a long and difficult process.

Nevertheless, PCs have become the most common client for client/server architecture, even though they are cumbersome to deal with in large numbers. The number of potential hardware combinations in today’s PC is almost unlimited. Plus, all users are essentially free to install and remove both application and operating system software from their PCs. PCs have become like fingerprints: No two are ever the same.