Network Computing System

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The Network Computing System (NCS) was an implementation of the Network Computing Architecture (NCA). It was created at Apollo Computer in the 1980s. It comprised a set of tools for implementing distributed software applications, or distributed computing. [1] The three principal components of NCS were a runtime environment for remote procedure calls, a network interface definition language (NIDL) compiler, and a location broker service. [2] The location broker differentiated NCS from similar offerings, such as the rival Open Network Computing technology from Sun Microsystems, by permitting services to be distributed in a dynamic fashion and offering the possibility of "location independence". [3] : 46 

The design and implementation of DCE/RPC, the remote procedure call mechanism in the Distributed Computing Environment, is based on NCA/NCS. [4] In response to a request for proposals from the Open Software Foundation for distributed computing environments, [5] NCS featured in the DEcorum proposal submitted by Apollo, by then incorporated as a division within Hewlett-Packard, along with IBM, Locus Computing, Transarc, Digital Equipment Corporation and Microsoft. [6] It also was the first implementation of universally unique identifiers,[ citation needed ] these being employed by the location broker to identify objects in the distributed system. [7]

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In distributed computing, a remote procedure call (RPC) is when a computer program causes a procedure (subroutine) to execute in a different address space, which is written as if it were a normal (local) procedure call, without the programmer explicitly writing the details for the remote interaction. That is, the programmer writes essentially the same code whether the subroutine is local to the executing program, or remote. This is a form of client–server interaction, typically implemented via a request–response message passing system. In the object-oriented programming paradigm, RPCs are represented by remote method invocation (RMI). The RPC model implies a level of location transparency, namely that calling procedures are largely the same whether they are local or remote, but usually, they are not identical, so local calls can be distinguished from remote calls. Remote calls are usually orders of magnitude slower and less reliable than local calls, so distinguishing them is important.

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Microsoft RPC is a modified version of DCE/RPC. Additions include partial support for UCS-2 strings, implicit handles, and complex calculations in the variable-length string and structure paradigms already present in DCE/RPC.

DCE/RPC, short for "Distributed Computing Environment / Remote Procedure Calls", is the remote procedure call system developed for the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE). This system allows programmers to write distributed software as if it were all working on the same computer, without having to worry about the underlying network code.

The DCE Distributed File System (DCE/DFS) is the remote file access protocol used with the Distributed Computing Environment. It was a variant of Andrew File System (AFS), based on the AFS Version 3.0 protocol that was developed commercially by Transarc Corporation. AFS Version 3.0 was in turn based on the AFS Version 2.0 protocol originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common Open Software Environment</span> Operating system standards initiative

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Data Protector software is automated backup and recovery software for single-server to large hybrid enterprise environments, supporting disk storage, tape and cloud storage targets. It provides cross-platform, online backup of data for Microsoft Windows, Unix, and Linux operating systems. The last version to use the OmniBack name was version 4.1, which was retired in 2004.

References

  1. ↑ Kong 1987, p. 1.
  2. ↑ Carl, Mike (October 1989). "Cooperative Computing". HP Professional. pp. 54, 56–59. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Kobielus, James (20 November 1989). "RPC tools pave way for cooperative processing". Network World. pp. 1, 40–41, 44, 46. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Chappell, David (March 1993). "The OSF Distributed Computing Environment (DCE)". ConneXions. Vol. 7, no. 3. pp. 18–27. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Brown, Jim (19 June 1989). "OSF asks users, vendors for distributed computing specs". Network World. p. 69. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Sharp, Bill (May 1990). "A modicum of DEcorum". HP Professional. pp. 66, 68–69. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Peterson, John W. (October 1987). "Distributed Computation for Computer Animation". Proceedings of the Fourth Computer Graphics Workshop. USENIX Association: 24–36. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

Bibliography

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