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Peer-to-Peer Networks
A
peer-to-peer network allows two or more PCs to pool their
resources together. Individual resources like disk drives,
CD-ROM drives, and even printers are transformed into
shared, collective resources that are accessible from every
PC.
Unlike
client-server networks, where network information is stored
on a centralized file server PC and made available to tens,
hundreds, or thousands client PCs, the information stored
across peer-to-peer networks is uniquely decentralized.
Because peer-to-peer PCs have their own hard disk drives
that are accessible by all computers, each PC acts as both a
client (information requestor) and a server (information
provider). A peer-to-peer network can be built with either
10BaseT cabling and a hub or with a thin coax backbone.
10BaseT is best for small workgroups of 16 or fewer users
that don't span long distances, or for workgroups that have
one or more portable computers that may be disconnected from
the network from time to time.
After
the networking hardware has been installed, a peer-to-peer
network software package must be installed onto all of the
PCs. Such a package allows information to be transferred
back and forth between the PCs, hard disks, and other
devices when users request it. Popular peer-to-peer NOS
software includes
Most
NOSs allow each peer-to-peer user to determine which
resources will be available for use by other users. Specific
hard & floppy disk drives, directories or files, printers,
and other resources can be attached or detached from the
network via software. When one user's disk has been
configured so that it is "sharable", it will usually appear
as a new drive to the other users.
In other words, if user A has an A and C drive on his
computer, and user B configures his entire C drive as
sharable, user A will suddenly have an A, C, and D drive
(user A's D drive is actually user B's C drive). Directories
work in a similar fashion. If user A has an A & C drive, and
user B configures his "C:\WINDOWS" and "C:\DOS" directories
as sharable, user A may suddenly have an A, C, D, and E
drive (user A's D is user B's C:\WINDOWS, and E is user B's
C:\DOS). Did you get all of that?
Because drives can be easily shared between peer-to-peer
PCs, applications only need to be installed on one
computer--not two or three. If users have one copy of
Microsoft Word, for example, it can be installed on user A's
computer--and still used by user B.
The
advantages of peer-to-peer over client-server NOSs include:
No
need for a network administrator
Network is fast/inexpensive to setup & maintain
Each PC can make backup copies of its data to other PCs for
security. By far the easiest type of network to build,
peer-to-peer is perfect for both home and office use.
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