Benefits of a client-server computing

Answer 1

Client - server architecture allows physically distributed users access to a centralised resource. The client is a process (program) that sends a message to a server process (program), requesting that the server perform a task (service). A server process (program) fulfills the client request by performing the task requested. The architecture's advantages include flexibility, expandability and reduced communications costs in comparison to a two-tiered system in which the client must download data from the database. While client/server technology offers many benefits, moving to it can be expensive.

Answer 2

- all the data are stored at the servers - better security

- control ability

- the server can control access to make sure only let premitted users access and change data.

- more flexible than P2P paradigm for updating the data.

- centalised - make data management controllable.

Answer 3

Although client/server networks are typically more complex in their design and mainte­nance than peer-to-peer networks, they offer many advantages over peer-to-peer networks, such as:

• User logon accounts and passwords for anyone on a server-based network can be

assigned in one place.

• Access to multiple shared resources (such as data files or printers) can be centrally

granted to a single user or groups of users.

• Problems on the network can be monitored, diagnosed, and often fixed from one

location.

• Servers are optimized to handle heavy processing loads and dedicated to handling

requests from clients, enabling faster response time.

• Because of their efficient processing and larger disk storage, servers can connect more

than a handful of computers on a network.

Together, these advantages make client/server networks easier to manage, more secure, and more powerful than peer-to-peer networks. They are also more scalable-that is, they can be more easily added onto and extended-than peer-to-peer networks.

Because client/server networks are the most popular type of network for medium- and large-scale organizations, most of the concepts covered in this book and on the Network* exam pertain to client/server networks. Next, you will learn how networks are classified according to size.

Answer 4

Clients can be "thinner" and need only process a limited amount of information. They then can make that information available to the servers and through them to other clients if necessary. Every machine does not have to make it's own calculations for everything that happens. We make simulators with dozens or hundreds of computers networked and served by a few servers. The clients ask the servers for certain information and some information is pushed out to all clients as need be.

Answer 5

• Easily scalable.
• Can be administered from one central computer.

Answer 6

1# Central Computing

2# Large Network

Answer 7

Centralized management of resources.