A level revision

Peer-to-peer and server-based networking

Local area networks can come in two forms (or architectures), peer-to-peer networking and server-based networking. Each have their advantages and disadvantages and may be used in different situations.

Peer-to-peer networking

In peer-to-peer networking each computer has an equal status, each can use resources such as printers and scanners from other workstations and can commuicate with the other workstations without going through a server. Peer-to-peer networking is best used when there are only a small group of computers which do not require regular access to the data stored on the other work stations.

Advantages

• Easy to set up and maintain
• Inexpensive
• Will continue to operate if one of the workstations or resources malfunctions

Disadvantages

• Because the files are stored locally on each workstation they can only be accessed by others when that workstation is turned on.
• No central control over security or backups. Every resource and workstation may have a different password.
• Only works well with a small number of computers

Server-based networking

As the name suggests server-based networking is a network where resources, files and security are all handled by dedicated servers. Such systems often require specialist software such as network operating systems and hardware such as print servers.

Advantages

• Can easily cope with thousands of users.
• Backup, security and account control are all central.
• Software can be shared between the computers.

Disadvantages

• If one of the servers go down all the users are affected and it may even bring the whole network down.
• More expensive to setup and maintain.

Client-server arhitecture

Devices on a server-based network are referred to as either clients or servers (the client-server arghitecture). Clients, such as computers, make requests for services like the use of a printer and servers handle the client requests. This is in contrast to a peer-to-peer network where the workstations act as both clients and servers. For example one computer in a peer-to-peer network may act as client and send a request for a text document stored on another computer whilst at the same time acting as a server by handling a request to print a document from a third computer.