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Application Servers/Thin Client

An application server actually does the processing for the workstations, which are often called "dumb terminals" since they have little processing power. If a user wants to use a spreadsheet on a workstation, the application server loads and runs the spreadsheet program. The user’s terminal simply sends the user’s keyboard and mouse actions to the server, which does the processing, and sends back screen images.

Low bandwidth "thin client" network operating systems include Citrix Metaframe and Microsoft Terminal Server. Application serving has some advantages such as being able to use cheap, low powered workstations. Its disadvantages include the cost and complexity of the powerful servers that are required to run programs for many simultaneous users.