Worked example 1
A school with 500 computers needs a network for students to save their work to a central location and access shared software. Which network model, Client-Server or Peer-to-Peer, would be more suitable? Justify your choice with two reasons.
Show solution outline
The Client-Server model would be more suitable.
Justification 1: Centralised Management & Security. In a school environment, it's essential to manage user access and secure student data. A server allows an administrator to set permissions, ensuring students can only access their own work. It also provides a single point for implementing security policies and antivirus software.
Justification 2: Centralised Backup & Resource Sharing. Storing all student work on a central server makes it easy to perform regular, reliable backups. If a student's computer fails, their work is not lost. Furthermore, shared software can be installed on the server and deployed to clients, which is far more efficient than installing it on 500 individual machines.