Java hotspot tm 64-bit server vm vs client vm

The JDK contains both of the these systems in the distribution, so developers can choose which system they want by specifying -client or -server.

Although the Server and the Client VMs are similar, the Server VM has been specially tuned to maximize peak operating speed. It is intended for executing long-running server applications, which need the fastest possible operating speed more than a fast start-up time or smaller runtime memory footprint.

The Client VM compiler serves as an upgrade for both the Classic VM and the just-in-time (JIT) compilers used by previous versions of the JDK. The Client VM offers improved run time performance for applications and applets. The Java HotSpot Client VM has been specially tuned to reduce application start-up time and memory footprint, making it particularly well suited for client environments. In general, the client system is better for GUIs.

The Client VM compiler does not try to execute many of the more complex optimizations performed by the compiler in the Server VM, but in exchange, it requires less time to analyze and compile a piece of code. This means the Client VM can start up faster and requires a smaller memory footprint.

For more info you can check below links:

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E21764_01/web.1111/e13814/jvm_tuning.htm#autoId12

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/whitepaper-135217.html

Weblogic Server has two modes of operations Development and Production Mode

In Development mode it starts as java -client process and in Production
mode it starts as java -server process.

This is set in CommEnv.cmd

CommEnv.cmd
@rem PRODUCTION_MODE, default to the development mode
set PRODUCTION_MODE=

:noReset

:sun
if "%PRODUCTION_MODE%" == "true" goto sun_prod_mode
set JAVA_VM=-client
set MEM_ARGS=-Xms32m -Xmx200m -XX:MaxPermSize=128m -XX:+UseSpinning
set JAVA_OPTIONS=%JAVA_OPTIONS% -Xverify:none
goto continue
:sun_prod_mode
set JAVA_VM=-server
set MEM_ARGS=-Xms32m -Xmx200m -XX:MaxPermSize=128m -XX:+UseSpinning
goto continue

:continue

The client system is optimal for applications which need fast startup
times or small footprints, better suited for interactive applications
such as GUIs.
the server system is optimal for applications where the overall
performance is most important. Some of the other differences include the
compilation policy,heap defaults, and inlining policy.

So the real difference is also on the compiler level:

The Client VM compiler does not try to execute many of the more complex optimizations performed by the compiler in the Server VM, but in exchange, it requires less time to analyze and compile a piece of code. This means the Client VM can start up faster and requires a smaller memory footprint.

The Server VM contains an advanced adaptive compiler that supports many of the same types of optimizations performed by optimizing C++ compilers, as well as some optimizations that cannot be done by traditional compilers, such as aggressive inlining across virtual method invocations. This is a competitive and performance advantage over static compilers. Adaptive optimization technology is very flexible in its approach, and typically outperforms even advanced static analysis and compilation techniques.

For more info you can check below links:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/198577/real-differences-between-java-server-and-java-client

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