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What is Remote Procedure Call (RPC)? Explaining the Basic Concepts of Communication Technology
Introduction:
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a communication protocol that allows a computer program to call a subroutine or a function on another computer or across a network. RPC simplifies the development of distributed applications by abstracting the communication details and making it appear as if the program is executing on the local computer. In this blog post, we will dive into the basic concepts of RPC and explore how it works.
Understanding RPC:
RPC is an essential component in client-server architecture, where the client program requests a service from the server program. The client and server can be running on the same machine or different machines connected over a network.
Key Components of RPC:
1. Client: The client initiates the RPC by making a request to the server program. The client program makes a local procedure call (LPC) that appears as if it is calling a local subroutine. The client’s RPC runtime library intercepts the call and initiates the RPC mechanism.
2. Server: The RPC server program receives the request from the client and executes the desired procedure. The server program processes the request and sends back the response to the client. The server’s RPC runtime library handles the communication details transparently.
3. Marshalling: Before the client’s request can be transmitted over the network, the parameters and data need to be serialized into a network-transmittable format. This process is known as marshalling. Similarly, the response from the server is unmarshalled to reassemble the data at the client’s end.
4. Stub: The client and server communicate through remote procedure call stubs. The client-side stub is responsible for packaging the procedure parameters and transmitting them to the server. It also receives the response from the server and unpacks it. On the server-side, the stub unpacks the parameters, calls the actual procedure, and sends back the result.
5. Remote Procedure: The remote procedure appears as a normal subroutine call to the client program, but it is executed on the server-side. The client is shielded from the underlying network communication details, abstracting it as a regular procedure call.
6. Protocol: The protocol defines the rules for communication between the client and server. It specifies the message format, error handling, and other details required for successful RPC communication.
Conclusion:
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a fundamental technology in distributed computing that allows programs to communicate and execute procedures on remote machines seamlessly. By abstracting the communication details, RPC simplifies the development of distributed applications, making it appear as if the program is executing on the local machine. Understanding the basic concepts of RPC, such as the client, server, marshalling, stubs, remote procedures, and protocol, is crucial for building efficient and reliable distributed systems.
Keep exploring the field of distributed systems and communication technologies to enhance your understanding of the power and possibilities of Remote Procedure Call (RPC).
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