What is RPC?

What is RPC?

RPC definition

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is a protocol that allows a computer program to request a service from a different program located in another computer on a network, without having to understand the network's details.

Benefits of RPC:

Simplifies network communication by hiding the complexities of network protocols.

Enables the development of distributed applications by allowing the creation of loosely coupled systems.

Increases the reusability of software components by allowing them to be called from remote locations.

Types of RPC:

Simple RPC: It passes parameters from the caller to the callee and returns a single value from the callee to the caller.

Typed RPC: It passes parameters and return values as typed data, allowing for data type checking by the caller and callee.

Asynchronous RPC: It allows the caller to continue execution after making a request, without waiting for the response.

Working of RPC:

The client program sends a request to the server program, requesting the execution of a specific procedure.

The request is packaged into a message and sent to the server program over the network.

The server program receives the message, unpacks it, and executes the requested procedure.

The results of the procedure are packaged into a message and sent back to the client program over the network.

The client program receives the message, unpacks it, and receives the results of the procedure.

Advantages of RPC:

Provides a simple and efficient mechanism for inter-process communication.

Supports distributed systems and enables the creation of networked applications.

Increases the reusability of software components by allowing them to be called from remote locations.

Disadvantages of RPC:

Performance overhead due to the need to package and unpackage data into messages.

Dependence on the network for communication, which can result in increased latency and decreased reliability.

Increased complexity in error handling and debugging, as the communication between processes occurs across a network.

Applications of RPC:

Distributed computing and networked applications.

Client-server applications where the client needs to request services from a remote server.

Inter-process communication in operating systems, allowing processes to request services from other processes.

Remote management of networked devices, such as routers and switches.