Client/server functions
Zetafax operates as a client/server application. The Zetafax Client allows users to create requests for processing, which are then submitted to the Zetafax Server. The Zetafax Server processes these requests, and monitors and controls the shared resources such as the fax devices and address book files.
Requests
In general there are two types of request made by the Zetafax client. The first type require an immediate response, such as address book edits, log searches and queue status requests. These typically take little time to process at the Zetafax Server. The Zetafax Server creates a results file which is then displayed by the client. Usually the client (and therefore the user) is just waiting for the request to be completed.
The second type of request will take some time to process, being generally associated with messages being sent, printed or scanned. For these the client still creates a request file, often linked to a data file containing the message to be sent, and submits the request to the Zetafax Server. The main difference is that having submitted the request, the user may then continue with other tasks. The client uses icons to display the progress of the request on the screen by monitoring a status file containing information about all outstanding tasks for that user. It is important to realize that the processing of the request is still being performed on the server machine. The user could exit from the client program or even switch off his or her computer without affecting the final result. Similarly, a user can still monitor the progress of his or her own messages from another computer.
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