N-tier client server architecture is just an expansion of 3-tier architecture with Presentation tier àApplication tieràServer tier. However, N-tier architecture splits the application tier into multiple tiers as below:-
In fact, all web applications are N-tier architectures. The advantage of N-tier architecture can be summarized as follows:-
i. Upgrading of the interface or application logic to meet new requirements would be easily with minimum disruption;
ii. Most processes are carried out in the Application Tiers and minimum data would need to be transmitted to both the presentation or the server tier which minimum the loading on the network.
iii. If new business logic is to be implemented, only the Application Servers needed to be upgraded. No upgrading works for the client machines would be required.
iv. The client is separated from the servers. Any changes to the servers would cause minimum disruption to the client machines.
v. Database connections can be shared by multiple users, which can reduce the software license cost.
Reference
Garfixia Software Architecture (n.d.). Client-Server / N-Tier Systems. Retrieved April 13, 2008 from http://www.dossier-andreas.net/software_architecture/tiers.html.
Micromax Information Services Ltd. (1999). Client/Server and the N-Tier Model
of Distributed Computing. Retrieved April 13, 2008 from http://n-tier.com/articles/csovervw.html.
