Network Technology NA 4 Essay

Peer to Peer Network Model

Peer to peer computer networking in its basic form is created when more than one computer is connected with another, and they can easily share resources and files without going through a different separate server. This kind of connection between and/or among computers may be made into a permanent structure or could take the form of a temporary infrastructure.

With the invention of personal computers, many workers in their various offices felt freed and licensed to gain independence at work places, though this was not the case earlier. It did not only become expensive for everyone to have his/her own resources, but also it delineated the workmates from themselves.

Therefore, an urgent and vital need to share the resources came up. The best way to solve this challenge was to come up with protocols and networks which would be able to initiate and maintain communication between and among the different computers. (Gebali, 2008). In this network, the devices are of equal calibers. One of the best networks to adequately perform this task was P2P. It uses Ethernet to run its chores with a remarkable speed of between 10mbs and 100mbs.

Advantages

1. Failure of one computer does not in any way mean the network is compromised. It means that the files housed in the particular computer would be unavailable.
2. P2P network does not need an operating system thus it is much easier to connect than any other network.

Disadvantages

1. There is no reliable security check apart from the permissions of individual users. This exposes the network to several security threats.
2. There is no centralization of the databases and files that are important to the user.
3. The network maybe slowed down when there are numerous users at a time.

Client-Server Network Model

Both the client and the server are different distinct devices with specific tasks. As the name sounds, the “client” is the computer that seeks help from the “server”. This network is usable in the Local Area Network and the Internet.

The Server device is basically stores files, folders, databases and even the sites on the Internet while the Client is the device (PC) with installed software applications which are then used as avenues through which a user can request for and receive files and databases. The kind of communication between the server and the client is majorly through sending messages between one another.

Unlike the P2P network in which every device has equivalent capabilities, Client-Server has much more specialized roles. The server is a more powerful and centralized computer that acts as a hub to many smaller computers called clients which run various programs and accesses information from the server (Gebali, 2008).

Advantages

1. There is centralization achieved and enhanced by the server(s) in a network setup. Therefore, there is better storage and access of data since it is kept at a central point.
2. Since the data is all kept at a central store, it is easier to back it up and if some is lost, the same can be effectively and efficiently recovered.

Disadvantages

1. This network model is very costly to install and maintain as compared to the Peer to Peer network model.
2. Since it is much more detailed and sophisticated, it would require an Information Technology specialist(s) to install and maintain the server, the clients and any other technical hitches that may arise.

Directory Services Networks

A directory service is the type of software that keeps, arranges and avails information in a directory; it is an information store as many have often referred to. It could as well be defined as a link between names and values. In this definition, the directory functions more or less like the dictionary does. Just as the name in a dictionary may have more than meaning or parts of speech, a name in a directory may be associated with more than one piece of data or one type of information.

A directory, depending on its reason of use, may be narrow and shallow thus hosting just a few sets of data or may be extensively broad and large hence holding a wide set of data. This directory service identifies and locates the various resources available within the network to their respective network protocols and addresses. This means that even in the likely event a user cannot easily remember where exactly a resource is, so looking up the name in the directory will provide its location(Gebali, 2008).

Any data on the resources within the network would be saved and kept as attributes of the particular resource. Once stored, this data can be safely guarded so that only the users with valid permissions can access them thereby minimizing the risk of the network being compromised (Gebali, 2008).

Advantage

Easier and faster location and access to any network.

Disadvantage

If the network is lost, the location of the resources may be seriously slowed down.

Gebali, F. (2008). Analysis of Computer and Communication Networks. New York: Springer Science Business Media.