Answer to Question #163350 in Computer Networks for Joel Hammond

Question

Differentiate between client server computing and peer to peer processing

Answer 1

Client-server computing relies on having a centralized server that can process a multitude of user requests. Whilst, such a structure allows for scaling via deploying multiple instances of the service on the server, it still has a problem in the form of a single point of failure.

As for P2P (peer-to-peer), it relies on the principle of decentralization. Meaning that all the computations are passed along to the members of the system. In some cases, there still can be a centralized naming server (an entity that stores the names/locations of all the active users and shares them). So, when it fails other system users' list of active nodes will eventually lose its actuality.

To sum up, it should be noted that in the pure client-server architecture user is always the initiator of the communication. However, P2P allows for "peers" to contact each other freely as peers can swap their role from client to server and vice versa at any time.