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Server Based and Peer to Peer Networks - OCR GCSE Computer Science

There are two different ways that computer in a network are organised:

  1. Server Based Network/ Client-server: Where resource security and administration and other functions are provided by a dedicated server.

  2. Peer to Peer (P2P): Where the clients handle all of the information and security themselves. There are no dedicated servers so everybody has the same status.

Protocols: Formal standards and policies comprised of rules, procedures and formats that define communication between two or more devices over a network. Eg. HTTP, FTP, SMTP etc.


Server Based Network

  • All users are reliant on the service provided by the central facility If the server goes down then everybody gets affected.

  • Can support up to thousands of users so it can keep up with the growth of an organisation.

  • The user ID access levels for certain users are controlled by the central computer.

  • Servers may be physically located in a secure office.

  • Backup facilities are centralised and backed up regularly.

  • Software is centrally held and shared. The server will distribute the programs to the users PCs if the request them.

  • Some processing tasks are performed by the file server.

  • It provides the network with more speed and power but is an added expense and complication.


In a client server network there could be more than one network.

For example:

  1. File servers - Stores files and user documents

  2. Authentication server - Manages users access details

  3. Application server - A server that runs programs across the network

  4. Web server - Stores and shares webpages

  5. Print server - Manages printing across the network

  6. Mail Server - Stores and handles emails

Peer to Peer Network

  • Storage facilities are distributed throughout the server. It may be difficult to remember which files are held on which computer.

  • Copies of software must be held on individual PCs.

  • It is less expensive and easier to set up compared to client server networks.

  • It provides basic networks such as software, file and print sharing.

  • Better for smaller businesses, does not require the power and speed of a client server.

  • The security is not centrally controlled. Users may need to remember different passwords for each resource they want to access.

  • Backup is the responsibility of individual users.

  • There is no central computer. Every time a shared resource is used such as a printer, the user where the resource is stored will experience a drop in performance.

  • Works best with under 10 users, requires no special networking operating system.

  • File duplication is a disadvantage of a peer to peer network, files are duplicated when they are transferred between devices which may lead to duplicate files and out of date files.

  • It is possible for a peer to go offline when they are accessing the network.


Examples of peer to peer network:

  1. Wireless printing from a laptop

  2. Ad hoc file sharing such as airdrop

  3. Streaming music to a speaker

  4. Sharing internet connections through personal hotspots