This introduction covers The Two Ways to Organize Networks within Client-Server & Peer-to-Peer for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Client-Server & Peer-to-Peer in 3.5 Fundamentals of Computer Networks for GCSE Computer Science with 16 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 1 of 10 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
The Two Ways to Organize Networks
Networks can be organized in two fundamentally different ways. Client-Server: one powerful central server provides services (files, applications, authentication) to many client computers - like a restaurant where waiters (clients) take orders from customers and fetch food from the kitchen (server). Peer-to-Peer (P2P): all computers are equal - they can BOTH request AND provide resources - like a potluck dinner where everyone brings food and everyone takes food. Schools and businesses use client-server. File sharing (BitTorrent) uses P2P!
Practice questions for Client-Server & Peer-to-Peer
In a client-server network, what is the role of the server?
State three advantages of using a client-server network over a peer-to-peer network. [3 marks]