1.4 Wired and Wireless Networks (Client server and peer to peer networks)

Question 1

Describe the features of a client server model

Answer 1

A client makes requests to the server for data and connections

A server:

Controls access and security to one shared file store

manages access to the internet

manages printing jobs

provides email services

runs a backup of data

Question 2

Advantages of client server model

Answer 2

Easier to manage security of files

Easier to take backups of all shared data

Easier to install software updates to all computers

Question 3

Disadvantages of client server model

Answer 3

Can be expensive to setup and maintain

Requires IT specialists to maintain

The server is a single point of failure. Users will lose access if the server fails.

Question 4

Describe the features of a peer-to-peer model

Answer 4

A peer is a computer network, and is equal to all other peers

Peers serve their own files to each other
Each peer is responsible fore its own security and backup.

Peers usually have their own printers. You can send print jobs to another peer to process, but that peer would need to be switched on to be able to communicate with the connected printer.

Question 5

Advantages of a peer-to-peer model

Answer 5

Very easy to maintain. Specialist staff are not required.

No dependency on a single computer.

Cheaper to set up. No expensive hardware required.

Question 6

Disadvantages of a peer-to-peer model

Answer 6

The network is less secure.

Users will need to manage heir own backups.

Can be difficult to maintain a well ordered file store.