- It defines those computers of the network used at the edge of the network. These computers are known as hosts or end systems.
- Hosts can be classified into the following two types:
Servers: Refer to the computer systems that receive requests from the clients and process them. After processing is complete, the servers send a reply to the clients who sent the request.
- The concept of clients and servers is essential in the network design. The various networks design models are as follows:
Peer to Peer network
- In this network group of computers is connected together so that users can share resources and information.
- There is no central location (server) for authenticating users, storing files or accessing resources and each of them works as both client and server.
- This means that users must remember which computers in the workgroup have the shared resources or information that they want to access.
- It is easy to set up.
- There is no need of any committed server as each peer acts as both server and client.
- The network implementation is quite cheap.
- The resources of a peer can be shared with other peers very easily in the network.
- The speed of the network decreases due to heavy usage.
- It is not easy to keep track of information on each computer.
- There is no central backup of files and folders.
- Network and data security are weak.
Client/Server network
- A client/server network is a system where one or more computers called clients connect to a central computer named as server to share or use resources.
- The client requests a service from server, which may include running an application, querying database, printing a document, performing a backup or recovery procedure. The request made by the client is handled by server.
- A client/server network is that in which the files and resources are centralized. This means that the server can hold them and other computers(Client) can access them.
- The server system holds the shared files.
- The server system can be scheduled to take the file backups automatically.
- Network access is provided only to authorize users through user security at the server.
- The server system is a kind of central repository for sharing the printer with clients.
- Internet access, e-mail routing and such other networking tasks are quite easily managed by the server.
- The software applications shared by the server are accessible to the clients.
- The implementation of the network is quite expensive.
- An NOS (Network Operating System) is essential.
- If server fails, the entire network crashes.
- There may be congestion if more than one client requests for a service at the same time.
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