DCOM Explained describes what services DCOM provides, both development and runtime. Thus the aim of the book is not to teach how to program using DCOM, but to explain what DCOM does so readers will become better able to use it more effectively, understand the options available when using DCOM, and understand the types of applications that can be built by using DCOM. This book describes: what each of the services mean, including load balancing, security, guaranteed delivery, deferred delivery, broadcasting and multi-casting, and session handling what the service aims to do, such as saving time and effort or providing a secure, resilient, reliable, high performance network how the service could be provided, and what other solutions exist for achieving the same end how Microsoft has tackled the problem Provides a complete, easy to understand, and compact picture of all the services of DCOM Written from a designer or manager's point of view Compares DCOM with other middleware