2. RMI versus Remote Process Calls (RPC)

2.3 RMI vs RPC - Comparison

Both mechanisms share common goals in that they allow the processes residing on different systems to communicate and cooperate. The similarities go beyond just their goals. RMI and RPC both make procedure calls on the proxy services (stub and skeleton).
However substantial differences are to be found in the way calls are made between client and server. Because RPC is designed to be functional between all combinations of application language it requires that a call's data representation be converted from its local language into a common language in order for it to be transmitted across the network. Alternatively, RMI is designed to operate only within the java environment thus no changes to the call's data representation are required.
In terms of security, both mechanisms possess adequate features. RMI uses the java.security SSL protocol and RPC uses data encryption techniques.

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