4.9.4 TCP/IP

Question 1

What are the two kinds of network configuration?

Answer 1

• Thin Client

* Thick Client

Question 2

What are thin client networks?

Answer 2

Majority of the network’s processing power belongs to servers which provide services and resources including storage and processing.

Question 3

What do servers provide?

Answer 3

Services and resources including storage and processing.

Question 4

What are some advantages of thin client networks?

Answer 4

• Easy to add new clients
• Clients are inexpensive machines
• Allows for greater centralised control of the network as software updates and security can be managed from the server

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of thin client networks?

Answer 5

• Requires a powerful server which is expensive

* Requires expertise to set up and maintain.

Question 6

What are thick client networks?

Answer 6

• Where clients are powerful enough to provide their own processing power and storage.
• This independence eliminates the requirement for a server, although it is possible for thick client networks to make use of a server.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of thick client networks?

Answer 7

• They require more powerful clients than their thin client counterparts making the network expensive to set up.
• Harder to maintain because there is no facility to issue updates and manage security from a central server

Question 8

What is an advantage of thick client networks?

Answer 8

• Thick client networks have much quieter communication channels which reduces the likelihood of data collisions
• The cost and expertise required in setting up and maintaining an expensive server is done away with.

Question 9

What is a difference between thick and thin clients in regards to data collisions?

Answer 9

• Thin clients suffer from high volumes of traffic communicating between clients and the server
• Thick client networks boast much quieter communication channels which reduces the likelihood of data collisions.