A school network can be set up as client-server or peer-to-peer.
(a) Give two advantages of using a client-server network rather than a peer-to-peer network. [2]
(b) Give two disadvantages of using a client-server network compared with a peer-to-peer network. [2]
- (a) Any one advantage from: security / access rights managed centrally; user accounts managed centrally so users can log in from any client; files stored centrally so backups are done centrally; software installs and updates managed centrally; servers are dedicated / more powerful so services are more reliable(1)
- (a) A second, different advantage from the list above (do not credit two points that both just say 'central management' without saying what is managed)(1)
- (b) Any one disadvantage from: servers are expensive to buy; specialist staff (network manager) needed to run and maintain them; if the server fails, clients lose access to services (single point of failure); server can become a bottleneck when many clients make requests(1)
- (b) A second, different disadvantage from the list above(1)
- Answer: Advantages (any two): central security, central backup, central user accounts, central software updates. Disadvantages (any two): cost of server, specialist staff needed, single point of failure, server bottleneck
- Examiner tip: Say what is managed centrally (backups, security, user accounts); "it is easier" or "it is slow" is too vague to score.