Network “Architectures”

A host refers to any device that is connected to your network. Some define ahost as any device that has been assigned a network address.

A host can serve one or more functions:

• A host can request data (often referred to as a client)
• A host can provide data (often referred to as a server)
• A host can both request and provide data (often referred to as a peer)

Because of these varying functions, multiple network “architectures” have been developed, including:

• Peer-to-Peer networks
• Client/Server networks
• Mainframe/Terminal networks

When using a peer-to-peer architecture, all hosts on the network can bothrequest and provide data and services. For example, configuring two Windows XP workstations to share files would be considered a peer-to-peer network.

Though peer-to-peer networks are simple to configure, there are several key disadvantages to this type of architecture. First, data is spread across multiple devices, making it difficult to manage and back-up that data.
Second, security becomes problematic, as you must configure individual permissions and user accounts on each host.

When using a client/server architecture, hosts are assigned specific roles.Clients request data and services stored on Servers. Connecting Windows XP workstations to a Windows 2003 domain controller would be considered a client/server network.

While client/server environments tend to be more complex than peer-to-peer networks, there are several advantages. With data now centrally located on a server or servers, there is only one place to manage, back-up, and secure that data. This simplified management allows client/server networks to scale much larger than peer-to-peer. The key disadvantage of client/server architecture is that it introduces a single point of failure.

When using a mainframe/terminal architecture, often referred to as a thinclient environment, a single device (the mainframe) stores all data and services for the network. This provides the same advantage as a client/server environment – centralized management and security of data.

Additionally, the mainframe performs all processing functions for the dumb terminals (or thin-clients) that connect to the mainframe. The thin clients perform no processing whatsoever, but serve only as input and output devices into the mainframe. Put more simply, the mainframe handles all the “thinking” for the thin-clients.

A typical hardware thin-client consists of a keyboard/mouse, a display, and an interface card into the network. Software thin-clients are also prevalent, and run on top of a client operating system (such as Windows XP or Linux).

Windows XP’s remote desktop is an example of a thin-client application.