What is the difference between a peer-to-peer network and a client-server network?

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What is the difference between a peer-to-peer network and a client-server network?

The main difference between a peer-to-peer network and a client-server network lies in the way the network is structured and how devices communicate with each other.

In a peer-to-peer network, all devices are considered equal and can act as both clients and servers. Each device can share resources, such as files or printers, directly with other devices on the network without the need for a central server. This type of network is commonly used in small-scale environments, such as home networks or small offices, where there is no dedicated server.

On the other hand, in a client-server network, there is a central server that manages and controls the network resources. Clients, which are the devices connected to the network, request services or resources from the server. The server responds to these requests and provides the necessary resources. This type of network is commonly used in larger-scale environments, such as corporate networks, where centralized control and management are required.

In summary, the key difference is that a peer-to-peer network allows devices to directly communicate and share resources without a central server, while a client-server network relies on a central server to manage and distribute resources to clients.