- Most of what happens inside of a computer
can be described as either storage or processing.
Computers store data
so that it can be access when needed.
And they process data,
which involves receiving, retrieving,
classifying, transforming, and transmitting it.
Computers are limited
by their internal storage and processing capacity.
But when we connect them into networks,
that gives us a lot of different options
for storing and processing data.
So let's take a look
at some of the different network designs
that we can choose from
and the pros and cons for each of them.
A client is a device like a phone, tablet, or laptop
that a user interacts with directly.
Client devices are designed to be cheap and portable.
So they usually have just enough storage and processing
to handle relatively simple tasks.
A server is a more robust computer
that we use to store large amounts of data
and to do serious processing.
And On Prem server is one that's physically located
on our premises,
meaning it's located inside of an office building,
distribution center, or factory.
On Prem servers are part of our local area network or land.
Cloud servers are located in a remote facility
and are accessed over the internet.
The companies that operate these remote data centers
are called cloud hosts.
Anytime we rely on a server for storage and processing
we end up with a centralized network.
Centralized architectures are often more efficient
and easier to manage,
but they can create a single point of failure
for a network.
The opposite of a centralized approach
is a decentralized or distributed architecture,
where we spread the storage and processing power
out across the client devices.
As client devices have become more powerful,
it's gotten easier to build distributed networks.
Distributed networks are more resilient
than centralized networks
because you don't have a single point of failure.
But it's harder to manage all of the devices
and keep them secure.
Some networks use a hybrid approach
called edge computing.
With edge computing,
you do some of the storage and processing
using a server that's close to the clients
and that edge server acts as a gateway
to the central servers.
For example, trucks and airplanes
might connect to edge gateway servers
that are scattered around the world.
And edge servers could communicate back
to the central servers.
Choosing the best ways to store and process data
depends on a lot of factors,
including the amount of data you have,
the capabilities of your client devices,
and the locations of your users.
Understanding the strengths and limitations
of centralized, distributed,
and edge network architectures
can help you choose the right network architecture
for all of your supply chain processes.