Architecture

Peer-to peer network: Simplest type of network

Client-server networks: Controlled by one or more

Peer-to peer network characteristics

 Simple to set up
 You purchase a modem/ router for an internet connection
 Attach other computers either directly with a network cable or use a wireless
connection
 Cheaper than client-server set-up. No server cost and no high technical expertise to
maintain it.
 Each computer is setup to share folders and peripherals such as printer, scanner and
external hard drive.

Disadvantages

 The main issue is that every machine is effectively independent.

 Each one needs the correct application loaded
 Your data is held on specific machine which must be powerful up. Although
setting up a ‘share’ will allow you to see this on the other machines as well.
 Each one needs its own anti-virus scanner
 Each one needs its own backup schedule – either by backing up to a networked
external hard drive or its own external storage device.
Setting up a peer-to peer network

When building a network, you can physically connect the computer before or after installing
(or checking) the operating systems. After installing the operating system, there are a few
you should check to make sure a computer is working.

One of the things you should do is check that a computer can communicate with others.

Wired Networking

After installing the operating system on the computer that will be the primary participate in
the network, you can physically connect the workstations to the router. You can start
connecting the pieces whether the computer are on or off.

To connect the computers:

Firstly, shutdown all computers and router, if needed.

Secondly, turn on one computer you will use to setup the router

Thirdly, your router should have come equipped with a piece of paper or a brochure of just
a few page that list the instructions to follow to setup the router. One of the early
instructions may ask you to insert the CD that came with the router, in the CD drive and wait
for the instructions. Follow these instructions faithfully.

Fourthly, after setting up and configuring the rouer, turn it off and turn off the computer
you used to set it up.

Finally, connect each of the other computers to the router using RJ-45 cable for each
connection.
Accessing the network

After installing the operating systems on the computers, a network, named a homegroup, is
automatically created, and that network is called Homegroup.

Microsoft Windows 7 provides a fast way to create a peer-to-peer network. To use it, start
Windows Explorer. Depending on the computer or its manufacturer, in the left frame, you
may see an icon labeled Homegroup: