1046 – Client-server Vs. Peer-to-peer network

A Local Area Network allows computers to share resources and data with each other.

There are two main ways to connect computers on a LAN. These are

• Client-Server
• Peer-to-Peer

Client-Server LAN

In a Client-Server LAN arrangement, most files and data are stored on a server. All computers on the network connect to this server through a central hub or switch

The other computers on the network are called ‘workstations’ or ‘clients’.

Users can access files and data from the server using any workstation. They just need to log into their account using their username and password. These accounts are managed by the server. Once they log in, they will see their work area or ‘desktop’ appear on the workstation screen.

For example, in a school network there will be a shared folder for students where your teacher will store files and resources that you need. There will be another shared folder for office staff, perhaps containing copies of letters sent to parents and other adminstrative documents. All students can see the student shared folder but not the office shared folder. And likewise the office staff can see their shared folder but not the student one.

This is because when your account and login are set up by the network manager you will be given permission to view and use only certain folders.

A typical arrangement is shown below:

A client server network requires a specialist network operating system.

As files are stored on the server and they can be backed up centrally.

Peer to Peer

Peer to peer networks are very common in small offices or at home where there are only a few computers connected together.

With a peer-to-peer network a central server is not required because the files are stored on the hard disks of individual network macines.

Each computer on the network has equal importance and no more privileges than any other.

Each computer is both a client and a server – it acts as a ‘host’. And users can access files and peripherals directly from all the other peers on the network.

Each peer computer can be set up to share folders with other peers.

So let’s assume that Mike has a folder on his computer which he has created and named ‘public’. He wants to allow Jim to be able to view the documents in the folder and also to be able to add new documents. To do this, Mike has to set the ‘public’ folder as a ‘network share’ and then Jim is given ‘read / write access’ to the folder. The shared folder appears as a network share on the ‘Jim’ computer.

However, Mike doesn’t want Mary to see the folder. Although the folder has been set as ‘network share’, because Mary hasn’t been given ‘read/write’ access she will not be able to see or use it.