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Flip to reveal answersWhat is the difference between client-server and peer-to-peer?
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All 5 Flashcards — Networking models
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Question
What is the difference between client-server and peer-to-peer?
Answer
In client-server one machine holds the data and answers requests from the rest. In peer-to-peer there is no machine in charge — every machine holds a share and serves the others directly.
Question
Give a benefit and a drawback of client-server.
Answer
Benefit: one authoritative copy of the data, with security, access and backups controlled in a single place. Drawback: the server is a single point of failure and can bottleneck when many clients want it at once.
Question
Give a benefit and a drawback of peer-to-peer.
Answer
Benefit: no single point of failure, and capacity grows as more peers join, with no expensive server. Drawback: no central control over who sees what, data may disagree between peers, and availability depends on peers being online.
Question
Why is online banking client-server?
Answer
Because an account balance must have one correct value held and controlled by the bank. Copies spread across customers' machines could disagree and none would be authoritative.
Question
Why is a blockchain peer-to-peer?
Answer
By design: every participant holds a copy of the ledger and they agree among themselves what it says, so no single organisation decides what is true.
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Topic 2.2 hub
Network architecture
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