Exercise 3: Monday 15.11. or Thursday 18.11.

Sources: Tanenbaum  & Van Steen, 2nd ed, Ch.4 "Communications"

Topics: RPC

1. Create a small application example where you utilise RPC calls. Explain the principles of RPC.

Using RMI is fine here, and there are many tutorials on the web, e.g., http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/rmi/index.html. (It is also exceedingly obvious that your solution must not be a straight-forward duplicate of a tutorial example.)

If you have previous experience, you may use a high-level programming language other than Java. Doing this probably shortens your program, but also raises the likelihood of having to present your solution. Be prepared to explains fundamental differences to RMI, above.

2. Look at slide 22 in the set DistSys-10f-2.pdf. It contains a chart of 24 different RPC systems. Pick 5 of them (not HTTP) and do some background research:

• a) Is the RPC still "alive" today: when was the latest version release? If the system is dead, what happened / changed?
• b) What are the requirements of using the system: OS, environment, other?
• c) How is the system licensed: open / partial / proprietary = closed?
• d) Would you choose the RPC for use in a new software project?