Networking Guide : Architecture

Network architecture describes the relation among nodes in a network.

A client-server network has a node that functions as a server which provides resources (e.g. programs, disk, printers) for other nodes (client computers) and manages clients access to the network resources. Corporate networks are typically client-server with one or more servers that store corporate information and employees' computers as clients.

Picture: Client-Server Network
Client computers access programs or information provided by the servers.

A peer-to-peer network does not have a server, each node (computer) in the network can share its own resources with other nodes and determines other nodes access levels to its own resources. Home networks are typically peer-to-peer. A peer-to-peer network is also called a workgroup.

Picture: Peer-to-Peer Network
Each computer shares its resources with other computers.