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Unit 11: Collaborating on Database Storage and Sharing Files




               Look to the top-left at the Application Server. An application server runs an application. In  Notes
               this case, a Microsoft .NET application.

               The Application Server could be a dedicated Web server supplying a Web interface to a
               database, or a client application on someone’s personal computer.
               The application could be bought “off the shelf”.
               The database, development environment, and server application could all be running on
               a single computer. More commonly, with SQL server projects, this is only done on
               developer’s machine to provide easy access to everything for the developer. In production,
               it would be normal for the database and application to be on separate machines. Sometimes
               the web server and application server are also separated.

          11.1.2 How Online Databases Work?

          The working of online databases is explained below:

          Online Database Software

          Online database software is an easy way to take advantage of software as a service (SaaS). Online
          database software allows you to store business critical information in web database software,
          where it’s easily accessible by all team members. This increases team collaboration and improves
          team efficiency and communication. QuickBase combines the power of a web database program
          with customizable database application solutions designed to meet your most pressing business
          needs.


          Moving Your Database Online
          Successful businesses have long understood that managing critical data and transforming that
          data into useful information is key to sustaining a competitive advantage. Today, these
          organizations are relying on non-web database software to house their data, and are growing
          increasingly frustrated with the lack of flexibility, scalability, and security—as well as the
          administrative headaches and costs—they encounter in supporting database software that is not
          web based. Increasingly, companies are beginning to research an online data base to collect,
          manage and share data online. That’s why more than 50 of the Fortune 100 companies have
          turned to QuickBase, the #1 online database software, to host their web database applications
          and programs.

          Self Assessment

          Fill in the blanks:
          1.   Data and applications are stored on a …………………… or a series of hard drives and other
               media.
          2.   SQL Server runs on top of ……………………
          3.   All communications with the server go through the ……………….. layer.

          4.   Online database software is an easy way to take advantage of software as a …………………..

          11.2 Exploring Web-based Database

          Web-DBMS (or Web-based Database Management System) is a general term for applications
          which provide a web-based interface to one or more databases. Web-DBMS allows the user to




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