(dis)advantages of mainframe centralization versus client/server decentralization?

[MadCool]

I got a question that is being debated on.

What is the advantages and disadvantages of mainframe centralization versus client/server decentralization. Where do you see it in the future?

What do you guys think?

[Jeffbx]

Ha ha! Funny you should ask -

I was debating this the other day. It goes in cycles -

First was the mainframe. All processing was done on a single powerful machine - people had to schedule processor time to run their apps. All terminals were just connections to the mainframe - no local processing. I think this quote sums it up well - "A processor on every desktop? What a waste!" Don't remember who said that, but that quote came back & bit him in the a**.

Next, PCs got more & more powerful. Mainframe connections were still the norm, but local apps started to be more popular. The notion of 'client-server' apps caught on as desktops got more & more powerful. Store the data on the server & process it locally!

Next, people began to wonder - why have that big PC on your desk if you're just running Word & e-mail? The server is already holding the data anyway. Thus came the thin client.

Next - hold on - you've got a big powerful server in your back room. Why are you buying new PCs every three years? Load up Citrix - use your server as it was meant to be used - to serve applications!

Now that's not catching on too well - let's go back to client-server.

Kinda funny...