The Internet has had an enormous impact on system architecture. The Internet has
become more than a communication channel — many IT observers see it as a
fundamentally different environment for system development.
Recall that in a traditional client/server system, the client handles the user interface,
as shown in Figure 10-16 on page 464, and the server (or servers in a multi-tier system)
handles the data and application logic. In a sense, part of the system runs on the client,
part on the server. In contrast, in an Internet-based architecture, in addition to data and
application logic, the entire user interface is provided by the Web server in the form of
HTML coded documents that are interpreted and displayed by the client’s browser.
Shifting the responsibility for the interface from the client to the server simplifies the
process of data transmission and results in lower hardware costs and complexities.
The trend toward Internet-based e-business is reshaping the IT landscape as more
firms use the Web to build efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solutions. When planning
new systems, analysts can use available and emerging technology to meet their
company’s business requirements.