Study Guide 3.

1-1
Understanding Server OS
A. Two Types of Network
Computer networks are classified into two types based on how they share files and other
resources:

1. Peer-to-Peer network 2. Client-Server network

A peer - to - peer network is a system of two or more computers configured to allow files
and other resources to be shared directly with everyone or with selected users.

A client-server network is a system where a computer named a server is used to provide

resources to other computers named clients.

Resources refer to any files, programs, and devices such as printers and disk drivers
that are made available for use by computers in a network.

A client is a computer that can access the shared resources provided by other clients or
a server in a network.

A server is a computer that can provides the resources requested by the clients in a
network.

In a peer-to-peer network, a group of computers is connected together so that users can

share files and other resources. There is no central location for authenticating users,
storing files, or accessing resources. Small businesses and home users are usually
based on a peer-to-peer network.

On the other hand, a client-server network has a server, which acts as a central location
of files and other resources that can be shared to other users in a network. The server
controls the level of access that users have to the shared resources. Big corporations
with high security data are usually based on the client - server network
B. Client – Server Network

In a client - server network, each computer still holds its files and resources. Other
computers can also access the resources stored in a computer.

One of the particularities of a client - server network is that the files and resources are
centralized. This means that the server computer can hold them and other computers
can access them. Since the server is always ON, the client computers can access the
files and resources without caring whether a certain computer is ON.

One way to setup a client – server network is to have more than one server. In this case,
each server can play a different role.