Abstract
Thomas More College is successfully evolving the CARS System from a host-based computing system to a client/server architecture. The key practical benefit of the migration path as provided within the CARS System is the ability to migrate an individual office or office user at a time best suited for them independently of the best migration plan for other offices or users of the administrative system. The key technological benefit is the PC utilized as a true workstation on the administrative system versus just a dumb terminal through a terminal emulation package. Thus, the workstation provides for the initial balancing of the processing load, for an easy to use interface to the host-based application, and for efficient an effective PC tools that are familiar to the user.The case study by Thomas More College involves the prototyping of the practical path from host-based computing to the client/server architecture for the CARS System. The thinking and the planning for the right architecture at the right time is critical. The implementation and support of the right architecture must be feasible for both the institution and its personnel. The benefits from the practical path which partners the client workstation with the server/host are being realized. The server which is a host computer is being used by the workstation which are clients, and the CARS System as a server is enhancing the computing resources for the users as clients, and CARS as the vendor in enhancing the computing of the institution as a client. Paper presented at CAUSE94, the full proceedings of which are available through this Library as PUB1094.