Client/Server Networks

A network can also be design to have a central computer, server, which acts to facilitate communication and resource sharing other computers on the network, which are known as client.

A network that uses a server to enable clients to share data, data storage space, and devices is known as a client server network. Basically, a server is use in the architecture to administer and manage clients activity.

In a Client/Server architecture, every computer on the networks will acts as either a client or a server. Although it is possible for a workstation to be both a client and a server, it is however, an uncommon practice.

Clients on the networks are still able to runs application from and save data to their local hard disk. But unlike a P2P networks they do not share their resources directly with each other. Rather a server will acts as their intermediary. However by using a server, clients are able to share applications, data, and devices just as long as the clients have the credentials.

Unlike the Operating System runs on a client, the computer server must be running a special type of Operating System. It is called Network Operating System(NOS) a type of Operating System designed to:-

1. manage data and other resources for clients.
2. Control which type of file user can open and read.
3. Ensure that only authorized user access the network.
4. Supply applications to clients.
5. Dictates which rules computers will use to communicate.
6. Restricts when and from where users can access the network.

Some of the popular network OS are Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Unix, Linux, and Novell Netware.

Even though Client/Server networks are typically more complex and costly in their design and maintenance compare to P2Pnetworks, there are many advantages over P2P networks that can be seen such as:-

1. user logon accounts and passwords for anyone on a server-based network can be assigned in one place.
2. access to multiple shared resources (such as data files and printers) can be centrally granted to a single user or group of users.
3. Problems on the network can be diagnose from a centralized computer, the server.
4. Faster response time - Servers are optimized to handle heavy processing loads and dedicated to handling requests from clients.
5. Server can connects to more than a handful of computer due to their efficient processing and larger disk storage.
6. It is more scalable - that is, the network can easily extended.
   

With that said, this shows that Client/Server networks are more easily manageable, secure, and powerful than P2P networks.