Newsgroups: bionet.software Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!news.cs.indiana.edu!bronze!cricket.bio.indiana.edu!gilbertd From: gilbertd@cricket.bio.indiana.edu (Don Gilbert) Subject: Re: Advice Wanted in Database Development Message-ID: <1991Feb23.154531.22527@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> Keywords: database software data-storage text-storage Sender: news@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (USENET News System) Organization: Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington References: <1991Feb22.173016.26670@lynx.CS.ORST.EDU> Date: Sat, 23 Feb 91 15:45:31 GMT Lines: 73 Here is a table of some of the attributes of some of the methods for developing host-client services for computational biology that I recently put together. It may be of use to you and others contemplating services such as access to various databases. I'm sure that it is incomplete and welcome comments. -- Don Some Client-Server Protocols for computational biology services Term Terminal session with server computer. Mail Electronic Mail exchange Tel.Serv. Define a new Telnet service (like SMTP, FTP, NNTP, POP, ...) X-Win X-Windows Attributes: Client software tailored to service (each Mac/PC must have special software) Term Can be Mail Preferred Tel.Serv. Required X-Win. No (? just X-window "server" on Mac/PC/Unix workstation) Current range of users with hardware and access to service Term Widest Mail Wide Tel.Ser Medium (growing -- tcp/ip network access) X-Win. Limited (growing) Interactive Term Yes Mail No Tel.Serv. Yes X-Win. Yes File or data transfer Term client or special software (ftp, kermit, copy/paste) Mail client software must handle Tel.Serv. client software must handle X-Win. ??? client software or copy/paste? Graphics Term encoded or special (e.g., Tektronics) Mail encoded Tel.Serv. encoded X-Win. Yes (encoded means text format such as HPGL, Postscript that must be translated by client software to display; client terminal software often includes Tektronics emulation for graphics) Fixed client-server protocol Term Sort of (user manual) Mail Yes Tel.Serv. Yes X-Win. No (Fixed means that client software must be updated w/ each change to service protocols) Special features or problems Term old standby, dial-up service is possible Mail can't reliably return mail directly to Mac/PC Tel.Serv. client needs tcp/ip network connection, ??? X-Win. tcp/ip network, high network overhead, new technology Example software Term GCG on Vax, HyperGCG stack Mail Genbank Search Hypercard stack Tel.Serv. POP, NNTP, SMTP, FTP, etc. with Mac/PC clients (HyperFTP, Net Newsreaders, POP mail ...) X-Win. Worm Community System, Fly data browser -- Don Gilbert gilbert@bio.indiana.edu biocomputing office, biology dept., indiana univ., bloomington, in 47405 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com