NETWORKS MODELS
Network can be organized into three basic models client/server, peer to peer and centralize
computing. Client/Server peer-to-peer are used with PC networks. While centralized computing
models are used with mid-range and mainframe assemble. Client/server is the most popular
configuration, because of its versatility and power drawing mainly from the vast variety and
higher performance of specialized sever hardware.
Central computing networks
The main is the core the centralized computing model. Main computers typically run the UNIX
operating system and can process multiple jobs simultaneously and in a very
efficient manner. Jobs are initiated by the terminal, which has no processing
capability on its own and simply provides input/output for the main. The user logs
into the main computer to process the user’s job; when the job is finished, the
main computer sends the results of the job back to the terminal.
The main advantage of centralized computing is that they are the highest performance networks
today. Its major disadvantages are:
They are costly
They are dependent on custom written software
They are more complicated than PC severs
Client/Server Network
The client/server networks is the workhouse of the network world and consist of at least one
server with shared resources and one or more clients which users do their work on. The server,
often called the back end, stores and secures user’s files. It provides the single point of
administration for networks users, files and application. In a client/server network, the function
of the server is to provide services, whereas the function of the client is to provide the actual
processing. Most client/server networks are built round a domain structure, where all servers
within a given domain share a common administration scheme.
Peer-to-peer Networks
A peer-to peer networks is simply a group of computers that functions as both servers and clients
(share and access resources).In this type of networks, a user works on a works station and
actually shares that works station’s resources with other workstations.
Disadvantages
It may be slow
Lack of a central security administration
Decentralized administration might be a nightmare