This key facts covers Client-Server Architecture within Client-Server vs P2P for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Client-Server vs P2P in Networks for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 3 of 9 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 9
Practice
15 questions
Recall
18 flashcards
Client-Server Architecture
What is Client-Server?
A network model where a powerful central server provides services (files, applications, authentication) to multiple client computers. Clients request, server provides.
Key Characteristics:
- Central server: One or more powerful servers provide services
- Many clients: Computers/devices that request services from server
- Request-response: Client requests → Server responds
- Centralized control: Server manages everything (security, backups, access)
- Client dependency: Clients depend on server for services
Server Roles:
- File server: Stores all user files centrally - access from any client
- Application server: Hosts software - clients run applications remotely
- Authentication server: Manages user accounts, logins, permissions
- Email server: Handles all email for organization
- Web server: Serves web pages to clients (browsers)
- Print server: Manages shared printers
Client-Server Examples:
- School network: Student computers (clients) access files from school server
- Office network: Employee computers connect to company server for documents
- Web browsing: Your browser (client) requests pages from web servers
- Email: Outlook/Gmail client connects to email server
- Online banking: Your computer (client) connects to bank's server
Client-Server Advantages:
- Central security: User accounts and permissions managed in one place
- Central backups: All data backed up from server (automatic, reliable)
- Easy management: IT staff manage everything from server
- Access anywhere: Log in from any client computer, access your files
- Powerful resources: Server has high-spec hardware (fast CPU, lots of RAM)
- Shared resources: Printers, applications available to all clients
- Centralized updates: Software updates applied on server, affect all clients
Client-Server Disadvantages:
- Single point of failure: If server fails, clients can't access services
- Expensive: Powerful server hardware is costly (£5000-£50000+)
- Requires expertise: Need skilled IT staff to manage server
- Network dependency: Clients must have network connection to server
- Bottleneck risk: Too many clients can overwhelm server