Server Based Networks

Server Based Networks

Dedicated server, Client server and peer to peer computing describes three types of network configurations that share resources.

A dedicated server is a type of network configuration in which specific computers take on the role of a server, the other computers on the network accessing the resources, means all the decisions are handled by a single machine.

In a peer to peer network configuration, each station can operate both as a client and as a server.

Dedicated server

To understand a server- based network, it is important to know the meaning of the term node in a network.

A node is a processing location that can be a PC or some other device such as a networked printer.

Usually, server based networks include many nodes and one or more servers, which control user access to the network’s resources.

As described earlier, this central computer is known as the file server, network server, application server, or just the server.

Files and programs used by more than one user are often stored on the server.

A file server network is a fairly simple example of this kind of nodes and server network.

This arrangement gives each node access to the files on the server, but not necessarily to files on other nodes.

When a node needs information from the server, it requests the file containing the information. The server simply stores files and forwards them to nodes that request them.

One way to identify a Dedicated server network is the point at which network resources such as files are made available to users.

In this environment, users gain access to files, printers, and other network based objects by obtaining rights and permissions given through a centrally controlled server or groups of servers.

Users must log on to the network to gain access to its resources.