The peer to peer networking model was the original model used in home networking on Windows, and most home networks still use this model.
However many home users don’t take advantage of this model and instead everything goes via the Internet.
By Contrast all Internet services use the client server networking model relying on a service provider e,g Facebook, Google Twitter etc.
Peer to peer networking enjoyed immense popularity in the early 2000 with Napster music and file sharing, but lost its shine when Napster shut down due to copyright violations.
However with the growing popularity of Crypto currencies peer to peer networking is once again surging in popularity as all of these use peer to peer networking.
Microsoft windows (all versions) support the peer to peer networking model.
In a peer to peer networking model a computer functions as both a client (workstation) and a server as shown in the diagram below.
Advantages and Dis-Advantages
Peer To Peer |
|
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to set up | Difficult to secure |
| No central administrator | Difficult to locate a resource |
| No single point of failure | Difficult to ensure data is backed up |
| No need for expensive server hardware | |
What Does ChatGpt Think?
P2P networking has experienced significant growth in recent years due to its advantages over traditional client-server architectures, such as improved scalability, fault-tolerance, and reduced infrastructure costs.
The P2P networking is expected to continue growing in the coming years as more distributed applications are developed, and the demand for decentralized and secure communication models increases.
The scalability, fault-tolerance, and reduced infrastructure costs provided by P2P networks make them an attractive choice for various industries, and their adoption is expected to accelerate as more businesses and organizations realize the benefits of P2P networking.
Client Server Model
Client Server
In a client server model a central server hosts information that the client wants.
In the case of the web (WWW) the server hosts web pages.
Advantages and Dis-Advantages
Client Server |
|
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easy to backup | more difficult to set up |
| Better security | Requires a network administrator |
| Easy to Locate resources | Requires more powerful and expensive hardware |
| Single point of failure | |
Smart Home Devices
Most devices currently use a client server model normally using a cloud based server for control and http as the control protocol.
See controlling smart home devices
This means that they are reliant on an Internet connection to function correctly.
Devices using MQTT use a hybrid model as there is no direct connection between the device and the controlling application. See Smart Homes and MQTT
Related Tutorials and Resources: