At 01:38 PM 16-11-01 +0000, you wrote:

>I'm unclear on a few things regarding Firebird and am hoping someone
>can clear them up.
>
>1. What is the difference between Firebird Client and Server? Does
>Client run on a local box and doesn't have all the features of
>Server?

Firebird client is a shared library (gds32.dll on Windows, gds.so on *nix/*nux) through which client applications converse with the Server. It is located on a workstation in your network.

Server is a process on a host machine in your network. It runs on the same physical machine as all of your databases. It manages them all, including the isc4.gdb database that holds the user security information applicable to all the databases. A client library connecting to this host machine is known as a remote client or, looking at it from the client's point of view, the server is a remote server.

A server and a client can run on the same machine. In this case (on Windows only) it is possible for the client library to connect locally to the server, i.e. using disk protocol instead of network protocol. Otherwise, the client can connect to the server on a local tcp/ip loopback connection. The server machine in that case is predefined in the tcp/ip protocol as localhost and has an IP address of 127.0.0.1.

>2. Is there any cost to using Firebird as the database for a
>proprietary software which would be sold?

No.

Helen

All for Open and Open for All
InterBase Developer Initiative · http://www.interbase2000.org
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