What is Distributed COM (DCOM)?
Distributed COM (DCOM) is a Microsoft technology that enables software components on different computers to communicate and interact with each other over a network. It is an extension of Component Object Model (COM), which is a binary-interface standard for software components.
With DCOM, developers can build distributed applications that span multiple machines and leverage the capabilities of remote components. It provides a transparent communication mechanism, allowing objects to call methods on remote objects as if they were local. This capability is particularly useful for building client-server architectures, where the server hosts the components and the client applications interact with them.
DCOM enables objects to be activated and accessed remotely. It handles the complexity of network communication, marshaling of parameters and return values, security, and transactional support. It provides a way for applications to establish a secure and reliable channel for exchanging messages and data.
One of the key features of DCOM is its support for different protocols. It can work with various network protocols, such as TCP/IP, HTTP, and DCE/RPC, allowing applications to communicate over different network infrastructures. This flexibility makes DCOM a versatile technology for building distributed systems.
In addition, DCOM provides features like object activation, instance control, object pooling, and server-side connection management. These features enhance the scalability and performance of distributed applications, allowing them to handle a large number of client requests efficiently.
DCOM is widely used in enterprise systems, where distributed and scalable architectures are required. It has been used in various domains, including web services, distributed databases, and client-server applications. Its adoption has been facilitated by its integration with other Microsoft technologies, such as Active Directory, which provides directory services and security management.
In conclusion, Distributed COM (DCOM) is a technology that enables communication between software components distributed across multiple computers. It simplifies the development of distributed applications and provides the necessary infrastructure for secure and reliable communication. With its support for different protocols and features like object activation and connection management, DCOM is a powerful tool for building scalable and efficient distributed systems.
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