Computer Networking Basics - Client/Server vs Peer-to-Peer Networks

 
Welcome back to Computer Geek HQ... For the second part of the  Computer Networking Basics topics. Today we will be discussing about the main categories of a network, basically a computer network is divided in two main categories which is the Client/Server Based network and Peer to Peer Based Networks. 

What is a Peer to Peer based Network?

In Peer to Peer based Network there are no dedicated servers or hierarchy among the computers. All of the computers are equal and therefore known as peers. Normally each computer serves as Client/Server and there is no one assigned to be an administrator responsible for the entire network. 

Peer-to-peer networks are good choices for needs of small organizations where the users are allocated in the same general area, security is not an issue and the organization and the network will have limited growth within the foreseeable future. Peer-to-peer networks can be as small as two computers or as large as hundreds of systems and devices. Although there is no theoretical limit to the size of a peer-to-peer network, performance, security, and access become a major headache on peer-based networks as the number of computers increases. In addition, Microsoft imposes a limit of only 5, 10 or 20 concurrent client connections to computers running Windows. This means that a maximum of 20 (or fewer) systems will be able to concurrently access shared files or printers on a given system. This limit is expressed as the “Maximum Logged On Users” and can be seen by issuing the NET CONFIG SERVER command at a command prompt.

This limit is normally unchangeable and is fixed in the specific version and edition of Windows as follows:

• 5 users: Windows XP Home, Vista Starter/Home Basic  
• 10 users: Windows NT, 2000, XP Professional, Vista Home Premium/Business/Enterprise/Ultimate
• 20 users: Windows 7 (all editions)

When more than the allowed limit of users or systems try to connect, the connection is denied and the client sees one of the following error messages:

Operating system error 71. No more connections can be made to this remote computer at this time because there are already as many connections as the computer can accept.

System error 71 has occurred. This remote computer has reached its connection limit, you cannot connect at this time. 

What is a Client/Server Based network?

On a Client/Server Based network, each PC has an unique part: that of either a customer or a server. A server is intended to impart its assets around the customer machines on the system. Regularly, servers are spotted in secured regions, for example bolted storerooms or server farms (server rooms), in light of the fact that they hold a conglomeration's generally important information and don't must be entered by operators on a ceaseless foundation. Whatever is left of the workstations on the system capacity as customers 

A dedicated server workstation regularly has quicker processors, more memory, and more space than a customer on the grounds that it may need to administration handfuls or even several clients in the meantime. Servers frequently run an unique arrange OS, for example Windows Server, Linux, or UNIX—that is planned singularly to expedite the imparting of its assets. These assets can live on a solitary server or on a gathering of servers. The point when more than one server is utilized, every server can "practice" in a specific errand (file server, print server, fax server, message server, etc) or give excess (copy servers) in the event of server disappointment. For requesting figuring undertakings, numerous servers can go about as a solitary unit through the utilization of parallel access

A Client PC normally speaks just with servers, not with different client. Current OS hold Client programming that empowers the Client workstations to access the resources that servers impart. Older OS, for example Windows 3.x and DOS, needed extra system Client programming to join a network. 

Comparing Client/Server vs Peer-to-Peer Networks

Access control    

• Client/Server - Via user/group lists of permissions Via user/group lists of permissions to only the resources granted, and different users can be given different levels of access.  
• Peer-to-Peer - Resources are managed by each system with shared resources. Depending on the OS, resources may be controlled by separate passwords for each shared resource or by a user list stored on each system with shared resources. Some OS do not use passwords or user/group lists, thus enabling access to shared resources for anyone accessing the network.

Security

• Client/Server - High; access is controlled by user or by group identity.
• Peer-to-Peer - Varies; if password protection is employed, anyone who knows the password can access a shared resource. If no passwords are used, anyone who can access the workgroup can access shared resources. However, if user/group names are used,security is comparable to a client/server network.

Performance

• Client/Server - High; the server is dedicated and doesn’t handle other tasks.
• Peer-to-Peer - Low; servers often act as workstations.

Hardware Cost

• Client/Server - High; specialized high-performance server hardware with redundancy features. 
• Peer-to-Peer -  Low; any workstation can become a server by sharing resources.

Software Cost

• Client/Server - Higher; license fees per user are part of the cost of the server OS.
• Peer-to-Peer - Lower; client software is included with OS.

Backup

• Client/Server - Centralized on the server; managed by network administrator. Backup by device and media only required at server.
• Peer-to-Peer - Decentralized; managed by users. Backup devices and media are required at each workstation.

Redundancy 

• Client/Server- Yes; duplicate power supplies, hot-swappable drive arrays, and even redundant servers are common; network OS normally is capable of using redundant devices automatically.
• Peer-to-Peer - No true redundancy among peer “servers” or clients; failures require manual intervention to correct, with a high possibility of data loss.

Thank you for taking your time to read Computer Geek HQ about "Computer Networking Basics - Client/Server vs Peer-to-Peer Networks" , this is just the second part of the Computer Networking Basics topics. I would appreciate if you could give me some comments and suggestion about this post.