Network Structures

                                                        Network Structures

                As indicated above, creating a network can be as simple as connecting two PCs together or connecting together thousands, even millions, or other networks. Depending on the needs of the users, a network can be quite simple or it can be very complex. There are two basic network structures:

Peer-to-peer (peer-based) networks

                 Two or more computers directly connected to one another for the sole purpose of directly sharing data and hardware resources. In the below figure, Ram and Shyam are directly connected by a cable and are able to grant permission to each other to open and use files and programs stored on their PCs and to share CD-ROM drives, printers, and other hardware. On a peer-based network, each user is responsible for the security and access of his or her PC because there is no central administrator. A peer-to-peer network is practically limited to not more than ten PCs arranged as a LAN.

Server-based (client/server) networks 

                   A network of connected computers and peripherals with a centralized server that facilitates the sharing of network data, software, and hardware resources. A client/server network typically has a central administrator that manages the permissions and access to the resources of the network. This structure is used for the majority of LANs and virtually all WANs and other network types that connect over a WAN. Any computer that requests services, such as a file, a program, or printing from the network is a client, and any computer that services the requests made to the network is a server. Depending on the request, any computer on the network can be a client for one type of request and a server for another. On a larger network, centralized computers process a variety of services for the computers connected to the network. Typically, on larger networks clients are clients and servers are servers.