The SPD Server Client/Server Model :: SAS(R) Scalable Performance Data Server 5.1: User's Guide, Second Edition

Overview of the Client/Server Model

SPD Server software divides SAS processing loads between the client and server. The following diagram shows a simple client/server topology. The server hosts multiple concurrent clients while it performs the heaviest processing tasks. Typical clients are desktop PCs or low-end UNIX workstations that are running front-end software. The front-end application sends the client's data requests over the network to the server and processes the information that the server returns.

You can create one or more SPD Servers on the host server machine. When an SPD Server host receives a client's data request, it performs an action on behalf of the client. The action depends on the request that was received.

Where does the user fit into the SPD Server client/server model? Users initiate SPD Server client sessions. In this documentation, the term user refers to the operator of an SPD Server client.

The SPD Server Client/Server Model

Symmetric Multiprocessor Hosts

SPD Server host machines use operating systems that can process concurrent threads in parallel on multiple processors. SPD Server exploits symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) hardware and software architecture.

SPD Server Host Services for Clients

SPD Server hosts provide multiple services to SPD Server clients:

Provides access to data stores SPD Server offers concurrent Read access and retrieval of SAS data.
Provides a high-speed data server SPD Server manages and processes large SAS tables.
Offloads query processing work SPD Server divides the labor. The server process retrieves, sorts, and subsets SAS data. A client process reviews and analyzes the data that the server returns.
Reduces network traffic SPD Server reads, sorts, and subsets entire SAS tables, and then returns answer sets. A query subset replaces large file downloads to the client machine. SPD Server uses a common storage facility. Multiple client users can use the same SAS data on the server without each client having to transfer the SAS data to their workstations.
Provides multi-platform support SPD Server enables clients to share SAS data across computing platforms with other SAS users.

SPD Server Features
SPD Server Feature	SPD Server Client Action	SPD Server Host Response
Support for petabytes of data	The SPD Server client reads existing SAS tables with a PROC COPY statement, or creates an SPD Server table by using a SAS DATA step or procedure. SPD Server clients can also use SQL pass-through CREATE, COPY, or LOAD statements to read SAS tables.	The SPD Server host creates component files that consist of one or more physical partition files. The server stores the physical partition files in one or more device or directory paths.
Scalable SMP Support	The SPD Server client runs SAS procedures and SQL pass-through syntax to read, sort, index, or query an SPD Server table.	The SPD Server host uses its threaded operating system to perform concurrent processing tasks that are distributed across multiple processors.
Selective Parallel Queries	The SPD Server client uses WHERE clause or SQL SELECT syntax. SQL pass-through, PROC SQL, and WHERE alternatives that are not part of SAS are supported.	The SPD Server host supports and subsets SPD Server tables, and then delivers answer sets to clients.
Parallel Loads	The SPD Server client runs SAS procedures by using the LOAD or COPY command to store SAS data and indexes.	The SPD Server host uses multiple threads to load and store tables and indexes.
Parallel Indexes	The SPD Server client creates table indexes using a DATA step, the DATASETS procedure with an INDEX option, or SQL pass-through with the LOAD or COPY command.	The SPD Server host creates SPD Server table indexes in parallel.
SAS Data Security	The SPD Server client accesses the SPD Server host using SQL pass-through, a LIBNAME statement, or an alternative connection that is not part of SAS.	The SPD Server host secures SPD Server files at the LIBNAME domain level, the table level, or both, and the row level.