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What Is A Remote Procedural Call Server (RPC Server)?

Written by: Kelli Krall | Last updated on April 1, 2024
Definitions
What is a Remote Procedural Call Server (RPC Server)?

Understanding the Remote Procedural Call Server (RPC Server)

Welcome to our continuing series on technology terms and definitions. Today, we will be exploring the Remote Procedural Call Server, also known as the RPC Server. If you’ve ever wondered what this mysterious term means and how it works, you’ve come to the right place!

Key Takeaways

  • The Remote Procedural Call Server, or RPC Server, allows programs to communicate with each other over a network.
  • RPC Server is an essential component in distributed computing, helping create a seamless experience for users across different devices and platforms.

Introduction to RPC Servers

Have you ever wondered how different programs running on your computer or across various devices can communicate with each other? This is where a Remote Procedural Call (RPC) Server comes into play. In simple terms, an RPC Server is like a communication hub that allows different programs to talk to each other over a network.

Imagine you have a laptop and a smartphone. You want to share a document between the two devices, running different operating systems. Using an RPC Server, you can seamlessly send the document from one device to another, regardless of the underlying system differences.

But how does it actually work? Let’s take a look at the key components and functionality of an RPC Server.

Components and Functionality of an RPC Server

An RPC Server consists of the following components:

  1. RPC Interface Definition Language (IDL): The IDL is a language that defines the interfaces, data structures, and procedures that different programs can use to communicate with the RPC Server. It acts as a common language for all the programs involved.
  2. RPC Runtime: The RPC Runtime is responsible for handling the communication between the client and server programs. It takes care of marshaling, unmarshaling, and network transport, ensuring that the data is correctly transmitted and received by both parties.
  3. RPC Stub: When a client program wants to invoke a procedure on the server program, it generates an RPC stub. The stub acts as a proxy for the server, making the procedure call on its behalf.
  4. RPC Binding: RPC Binding is the process of establishing a connection between the client and server programs. It includes identifying the address, port number, and protocol to be used for communication.

Now that we understand the components, let’s see how the RPC Server functions:

  1. The client program calls a procedure, defined in the RPC IDL, on the RPC stub.
  2. The RPC stub marshals the procedure parameters into a specific format that can be transmitted over the network.
  3. The marshaled data is sent to the RPC Server using the established RPC binding.
  4. The RPC Server receives the data and unmarshals it, extracting the procedure parameters.
  5. The RPC Server executes the procedure and returns the result to the client program.

And voilà! The communication is complete, thanks to the RPC Server.

Conclusion

The Remote Procedural Call Server plays a vital role in enabling seamless communication between different programs over a network. It acts as a mediator, bringing together client and server programs, regardless of the underlying technology and platforms.

By understanding the components and functionality of an RPC Server, we can appreciate the power and versatility it brings to distributed computing. So next time you share a document between devices or witness seamless integration between programs, remember the unsung hero behind the scenes – the RPC Server!

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