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AW System Architecture (Sdk)
AW System Architecture // Sdkjim flemingFeb 5, 1999, 8:59am
It seems to me that more emphasis needs to
be placed on making sure the AW Architecture is clearly documented. Once one does this then the SDK fits in as a component. At the moment, it appears as though we are working this problem backwards. In other words, the SDK is being documented and eventually people are going to discover the architecture that was there from the start. If I was an IETF advocate, I would suggest that the AW Architecture be described in terms of the "wire protocols" between the various systems. While this has short-term benefits and allows people on different types of computers to develop software it often hides the true system architecture by providing the wrong view of the system. This is like trying to describe a maze as a series of right and left turns vs. a birds-eye-view of north-south room orientations. Taking the birds-eye-view of the AW Architecture I think we can see 4 major architectural components. These may or may not reside on the same computer (or server). The 4 components are: 1. The AW Server or object repository 2. The AW Client - typically called the Browser 3. The AW Authentication System 4. The world of RO mass storage (i.e. web storage for art) The SDK provides "client" access to the AW Platform which is made up of the 4 architectural components above. The SDK is the one place where we can begin to develop a "view" of the AW Architecture. Since the SDK is designed to run on client computers where a browser typically runs, our natural inclination is to assume that the SDK is for developing bots. As people have recognized, this is only one minor usage. As the SDK proceeds, it might be useful to identify other pieces in the AW System Architecture that are missing or not highlighted. Obvious extensions are: 5. Local file storage on the client system 6. Other processes on the client system (e.g. spreadsheets) 7. An SQL database server 8. Other servers and services on the network If anyone is interested in helping to document the overall AW Architecture beyond the SDK let me know. In my opinion, this would help new SDK developers more quickly understand the potential of what the SDL can be used for and will promote other developments that are not really properly labeled "bots". Jim Fleming UNIR, COM and UNETY worlds in AW edward sumerfieldFeb 5, 1999, 11:50am
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<html> I took a high level crack at it on my page. <p> <A HREF="http://members.xoom.com/esumerfd/ActiveWorlds/Frames.htm">http://members.xoom.com/esumerfd/ActiveWorlds/Frames.htm</A> <p>Its more of a network arch that a system arch. <p>Edward Sumerfield [View Quote] jim flemingFeb 5, 1999, 12:11pm
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------=_NextPart_000_0260_01BE50DF.2DB4B820 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable This is a great compilation of information. One of the things I plan to use the UNIR world for is as a 3D notebook (ala Ted Nelson XANADU) for helping to preserve the system architecture and essential knowledge for new people getting started in programming and world design. A quick scan of your web pages raised some more points... 1. Isn't the UniServer just a vanilla Kerberos machine ? 2. Embedding IP addresses into the protocol makes it very difficult to interwork from behind firewalls. Are there any plans to fix that ?....or should custom firewall code be developed as a work-around ? Jim Fleming UNIR, COM and UNETY worlds in AW [View Quote] ------=_NextPart_000_0260_01BE50DF.2DB4B820 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 = transitional//en"> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>This is a great compilation of = information. One=20 of the</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT><FONT size=3D2>things I plan = to use the=20 UNIR world for is as a 3D notebook</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>(ala Ted Nelson XANADU) for helping to preserve=20 the</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>system architecture and essential knowledge for=20 new</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>people getting started in programming and world=20 design.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>A quick scan of your web pages raised some = more</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>points...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>1. Isn't the UniServer just a vanilla Kerberos = machine=20 ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>2. Embedding IP addresses into the protocol makes=20 it</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>very difficult to interwork from behind firewalls. = Are=20 there</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>any plans to fix that ?....or should custom firewall = code</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>be developed as a work-around ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Jim Fleming</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>UNIR, COM and UNETY worlds in AW</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: = 5px"> [View Quote] = href=3D"mailto:36BAF716.B3CCE13B at poboxes.com">36BAF716.B3CCE13B at poboxes.c= om</A>>...</DIV>I=20 took a high level crack at it on my page.=20 <P> <A=20 = href=3D"http://members.xoom.com/esumerfd/ActiveWorlds/Frames.htm">http://= members.xoom.com/esumerfd/ActiveWorlds/Frames.htm</A>=20 =20 <P> </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_0260_01BE50DF.2DB4B820-- decastro@cable.a2000.nl (xelag)Feb 5, 1999, 1:53pm
A most instructive page, thanks Edward.
XelaG. http://members.xoom.com/esumerfd/ActiveWorlds/Frames.htm -- Xelagot 46ADB [Delph] creator: XelaG email: decastro at cable.a2000.nl edward sumerfieldFeb 6, 1999, 2:20pm
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I guess I don't understand what a "vanilla Kerberos" machine is. Kerberos being a security protocol I am assuming that a machine of this sort would do some login validation as the Universe server does but with the format of the message looking distinctly AW proprietary I would think that it is a home grown piece of code. It also supplies features like "get-name-using-citnum" and "get-list-of-worlds" which are not standard security features. As for the embedded IP and port, I agree to a point. All connections are made outbound from the browser which are usually not restricted by firewalls. It is inbound connections through firewalls that are a major no-no in the security world. Though there are high security environments where even outbound connections are disallowed and proxies are installed to allow secure data passage in a controlled way for the more common interactions like web, ftp and mail. Suffice it to say, I work behind a firewall that allows outbound connections and AW browser works fine. I also use a program called ICQ that requires inbound connections and that is unusable behind any firewall environment unless you get get permission to add an inbound port override to the firewall just for that application. I have worked in large corporations that are far too paranoid for a feature with no cost benefit like chat. Anyway, my point in bringing ICQ up was to mention that it implements the SOCKS firewall protocol to get around this in some situations. I do not know much about it except that it doesn't work were I am. Edward Sumerfield, ICQ# 28021232 [View Quote] > This is a great compilation of information. One of thethings I plan to use > the UNIR world for is as a 3D notebook(ala Ted Nelson XANADU) for helping to > preserve thesystem architecture and essential knowledge for newpeople > getting started in programming and world design. A quick scan of your web > pages raised some morepoints... 1. Isn't the UniServer just a vanilla > Kerberos machine ? > 2. Embedding IP addresses into the protocol makes itvery difficult to > interwork from behind firewalls. Are thereany plans to fix that ?....or > should custom firewall codebe developed as a work-around ? Jim FlemingUNIR, > COM and UNETY worlds in AW > [View Quote] --------------6016F37521646081953510CF Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> I guess I don't understand what a "vanilla Kerberos" machine is. Kerberos being a security protocol I am assuming that a machine of this sort would do some login validation as the Universe server does but with the format of the message looking distinctly AW proprietary I would think that it is a home grown piece of code. It also supplies features like "get-name-using-citnum" and "get-list-of-worlds" which are not standard security features. <p>As for the embedded IP and port, I agree to a point. All connections are made outbound from the browser which are usually not restricted by firewalls. It is inbound connections through firewalls that are a major no-no in the security world. Though there are high security environments where even outbound connections are disallowed and proxies are installed to allow secure data passage in a controlled way for the more common interactions like web, ftp and mail. <p>Suffice it to say, I work behind a firewall that allows outbound connections and AW browser works fine. <p>I also use a program called ICQ that requires inbound connections and that is unusable behind any firewall environment unless you get get permission to add an inbound port override to the firewall just for that application. I have worked in large corporations that are far too paranoid for a feature with no cost benefit like chat. <p>Anyway, my point in bringing ICQ up was to mention that it implements the SOCKS firewall protocol to get around this in some situations. I do not know much about it except that it doesn't work were I am. <p>Edward Sumerfield, ICQ# 28021232 [View Quote] </body> </html> --------------6016F37521646081953510CF-- |