Distributed Computing

ALSO CALLED: Distributed Networking, Distributed Processing
DEFINITION: Computing is said to be "distributed" when the computer programming and data that computers work on are spread out over more than one computer, usually over a network. Computing prior to low-cost computer power on the desktop, was organized in centralized "glass houses" (so-called because the computers were often shown to visitors through picture windows). Although these centers still exist, large  … 
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DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING DEFINITION (continued): …  and small enterprises over time are moving (distributing) applications and data to where they can operate most efficiently in the enterprise, to some mix of desktop workstations, local area network servers, regional servers, Web servers, and other servers. A popular trend has been client/server computing which is simply the view that a client computer can provide certain capabilities for a user and request others from other computers that provide services for the clients. (The Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol protocol is an example of this idea.)The Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) … 
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