1. Client/Server and Peer to Peer
National 4/5 Computing Science

2. Lesson aims By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Describe what a peer to peer network is
Describe what a client server network is
Discuss the differences between them

3. Client and Server Networks
You are working on a client and server network
Your machine is a CLIENT
Your documents are stored and internet access is managed through the schools SERVER
You connect to a server to use its resources
This can vary depending on the server
Might just be to store files…

4. A sample Client Server network
Web Server
Server
Client
Client
File Server

5. What can a server do? Servers can perform multiple roles – some are
They can run servers
They can store files
Control Internet Access
Host Web Sites
Control printing for multiple computers

6. Peer to Peer Networks You can run a peer to peer network
A peer to peer network is where each computer shares the functions/files of a network.
Peer to peer networks have advantages:
Each computer has its own backing storage so does not rely on an expensive server.
No expensive server hardware or software to purchase
No complex server software to setup

7. Uses of Peer to Peer Networks
Distributed downloading
Where instead of downloading from one central location you download pieces of a file from multiple machines
Can be used for legal AND illegal purposes
The technology is legal!
The files being shared may not be!