Distributed String Array Management Application using Java RMI

Overview

This project involves the development of a distributed application using Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) for managing a remote string array. The application enables client-server communication, allowing clients to remotely interact with a shared string array. The project incorporates multithreading to handle multiple client requests concurrently and ensures thread safety using synchronization mechanisms like locks.

Features

• Remote String Array Management: Clients can perform various operations on a remote string array, such as adding, retrieving, updating, and removing strings.
• Client-Server Communication: Utilizes Java RMI for seamless communication between clients and the server.
• Multithreading: Supports concurrent client requests, allowing multiple clients to interact with the server simultaneously.
• Thread Safety: Ensures safe access to the shared string array using synchronization mechanisms like locks.

Project Structure

• src/
  • server/
    • StringArrayServer.java: Contains the server implementation that hosts the remote string array.
    • StringArrayImplementation.java: Implements the remote methods defined in the StringArrayInterface.
  • client/
    • StringArrayClient.java: Contains the client-side implementation to connect and interact with the remote string array.
  • common/
    • StringArrayInterface.java: Defines the remote interface that declares methods for managing the string array.
  • util/
    • LockingMechanism.java: Provides utility methods for locking and synchronization to ensure thread safety.

Prerequisites

• Java Development Kit (JDK): Ensure JDK is installed on your system.
• RMI Registry: The RMI registry must be running to allow clients to locate the remote objects.

Setup and Execution

1. Compile the Project:

   • Navigate to the src/ directory.
   • Run the following command to compile all Java files:

     javac server/*.java client/*.java common/*.java util/*.java

2. Start the RMI Registry:

   • Open a terminal and start the RMI registry using the command:

     rmiregistry

   • The registry must be running before starting the server.

3. Run the Server:

   • In a new terminal window, navigate to the src/server/ directory.
   • Start the server by executing:

     java server.StringArrayServer

4. Run the Client:

   • Open another terminal window and navigate to the src/client/ directory.
   • Start the client by executing:

     java client.StringArrayClient

   • The client will connect to the server and provide options to manage the remote string array.

Usage

Upon running the client, you will be presented with a menu to perform the following operations on the remote string array:

• Add a string: Append a string to the remote array.
• Retrieve a string: Retrieve a string from the array by index.
• Update a string: Update a string at a specific index.
• Remove a string: Remove a string from the array.
• View all strings: Display all strings currently in the array.