> > Local: CORBA > > (UIL <--> DL <--> BL <--> PL) > > > > Remote: SOAP or Fipa > > (BL <--> BL or DL <--> DL) > > If CORBA becomes only for local use, then why not use something like > SysV IPC (shm, messages, ...) which is much faster. I'd vote for the former with the following modification: Local LAN = CORBA / Internet = SOAP CORBA's natural distribution is a plus. You can have several CORBA servers on the same host or on "close" hosts and it still works fine. That's harder to achieve with SysV IPC mechanisms. OTOH, SOAP is a HTTP-based protocol, that is easier to control and secure with common tools (ssl, etc.) and to let thru firewalls etc. Typically what you need over the internet. -- Nicolas Chauvat http://www.logilab.com - "Mais où est donc Ornicar ?" - LOGILAB, Paris (France)