Client-server vs peer-to-peer models in Computer Networks - Practice Questions

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding the main difference between client-server and peer-to-peer models

Which statement best describes the main difference between client-server and peer-to-peer (P2P) network models?

A In client-server, a central server manages resources; in P2P, all nodes share resources equally without a central server.

B Client-server networks have no central control, while P2P networks always use a central server.

C P2P networks require more powerful servers than client-server networks.

D Client-server networks do not allow direct communication between clients.

💡 Hint

Think about who controls the resources and communication in each model.

Client-server networks rely on a central server to manage resources and services. In contrast, peer-to-peer networks distribute resource sharing equally among all nodes without a central server.

📋 Factual

intermediate

Identifying characteristics of peer-to-peer networks

Which of the following is a typical characteristic of peer-to-peer networks?

A Centralized control of data and services

B Requires dedicated servers to operate

C Equal roles for all nodes in sharing resources

D Clients cannot communicate directly with each other

💡 Hint

Consider how nodes interact and share resources in P2P.

In peer-to-peer networks, all nodes act as equals and share resources directly without centralized control.

🚀 Application

advanced

Choosing the best model for a file-sharing application

You want to design a file-sharing application where users can share files directly without relying on a central server. Which network model should you choose?

A Peer-to-peer model, because it allows direct sharing between users without a central server.

B Client-server model, because it centralizes file storage for easy management.

C Client-server model, because it prevents users from sharing files directly.

D Neither model supports direct file sharing between users.

💡 Hint

Think about which model supports direct user-to-user sharing.

Peer-to-peer networks enable users to share files directly without a central server, making them ideal for file-sharing applications.

🔍 Analysis

advanced

Analyzing network reliability in client-server vs peer-to-peer

Which statement correctly compares the reliability of client-server and peer-to-peer networks?

A Peer-to-peer networks are less reliable because they depend on a single central server.

B Peer-to-peer networks are more reliable because they have no single point of failure.

C Client-server networks are more reliable because all nodes share equal responsibility for data.

D Client-server networks are less reliable because if the central server fails, the whole network is affected.

💡 Hint

Consider what happens if one node or server fails in each model.

Peer-to-peer networks have no single point of failure, so if one node fails, others can continue operating. Client-server networks rely on a central server, so its failure can disrupt the entire network.

❓ Comparison

expert

Comparing scalability of client-server and peer-to-peer networks

Which statement best explains the scalability differences between client-server and peer-to-peer networks?

A Client-server networks scale easily because adding more clients does not increase server load.

B Peer-to-peer networks do not scale well because they require a central server to manage connections.

C Client-server networks scale better because the central server handles all processing efficiently regardless of client number.

D Peer-to-peer networks scale better because each new node adds resources and bandwidth to the network.

💡 Hint

Think about how adding more nodes affects resource availability in each model.

In peer-to-peer networks, each new node contributes resources, improving scalability. Client-server networks can become bottlenecked at the central server as clients increase.