In order to share information among workstations, VTS uses a classic client/server architecture where a system of workstations running the same VTS application exchange data. In typical client/server architecture, the server workstation is responsible for providing information to all of its client workstations. 

In VTS, in order to run a standard application on several computers, and enable the sharing of data amongst them, one computer must be designated as the "primary configuration server", and one server (either the same PC or another PC) must be designated as the server for VTS services. You may also designate backup servers in the event that your primary configuration server, or the server for a VTS service, should fail.

All workstations running a remote application that have not been specified as the primary configuration server or as one of the backup servers are referred to as "clients".