Look at the picture, what do you see?

HOUSE

MODEL OF THE HOUSE

MODEL

HOUSE

Network architecture is the overall design of a computer network that describes how the computer network is configured and what strategies are being used.

Network architecture are also known as network model of design.

Two Main of Network architecture

Client/Server

Peer-to-Peer

On a client / server network, one computer act as a server that provides services and the other computers (client) on the network request services from the server.

Client / Server

Server

○ A server is sometimes called a host computer.

○ A computer that control access to the hardware, software, and other resources on the network and provides a centralized storage area for program.

○ The are many type of server such as mail server, web server, file server and FTP server.

Client

○ A computer that request services from a server computer

○ Client/server network are typically used when there is a constant need to access large files and applications or when multiple user want to share peripheral.

For example, a web browser is a client program at the user computer that may access information at any web server in the world.

Fig. 1. Client/server network

Peer-to-peer is a simple, inexpensive network that typically connects fewer than 10 computers.

Peer-to-peer networks are designed primarily for small to medium local area networks.

All computers in the network have equal capabilities to use the resources (hardware, software, data and files) available on the network.

With peer-to-peer network, there is no central server.

Peer to peer

Fig. 2. Peer-to-peer network Picture of Peer-to-peer network

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLIENT/SERVER AND PEER-TO-PEER

CLIENT/SERVER PEER-TO-PEER

Server has the control ability while clients don’t

All computers have equal ability

Higher cabling cost Cheaper cabling cost

It is used in small and large network

Normally used in small networks with less than 10 computers

Easy to manage Hard to manage

Install software only in the server while client share the software

Install software to every computer

One powerful computing a acting as server

No server is needed