Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks

Client-Server Networks

A client-server network is an architecture where multiple PCs (the clients) are connected to one centralized server. The server manages the network and the clients request resources from the server.
Servers are powerful computers or processes dedicated to managing disk drives (file servers), printers (print servers), or network traffic (network servers).
In a client-server network, the server will store the files and control access to the resources.
Clients are computers that access and use resources, such as files, from a server.
The client-server model is quite common in organisations as it allows control over the network, including security, from one place.
However, if the server goes down, nobody can access any resources and the whole network fails.

In a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, all the connected devices (peers) share their resources with each other directly, without the need for a dedicated server.
In P2P networks, data is transferred from peer to peer, rather than through a central server. Each peer is equal in terms of authority and tasks.
All devices in a P2P network can function as both a server and a client to all other devices on the network.
P2P networks are simpler and cheaper to set up and are ideal for small businesses or home networks.
However, peer-to-peer networks are not as secure as client-server networks and can be more difficult to manage.

Control: The client-server model provides more control for the network administrator as all the resources are centralized in the server. Conversely, in a P2P network, each peer controls its own resources, leading to decentralization of control.
Cost: P2P networks generally have lower setup and maintenance costs compared to client-server networks due to the lack of need for dedicated server hardware.
Data Redundancy: P2P networks offer better data redundancy as multiple peers may have the same data, making the network resilient to failure of any single peer. In contrast, if the server in a client-server network fails, the entire network may become inaccessible.
Security: Client-server networks typically have stronger security measures as the servers can be equipped with robust data protection and security mechanisms, which is more challenging in P2P networks due to their decentralized nature.