Relationship of Devices on the

Network
• There are two major types of network
operating systems:
• Peer-to-peer
• Client/server

• Nearly all modern networks are a combination

of both. The networking design can be
considered independent of the servers and
workstations that will share it.
 Peer-to-peer
• Peer-to-peer network operating systems allow
users to share resources and files located on
their computers and to access shared
resources found on other computers.
However, they do not have a file server or a
centralized management source
Peer-to-peer
• In a peer-to-peer network, all computers are
considered equal; they all have the same
abilities to use the resources available on
the network.
• Peer-to-peer networks are designed
primarily for small to medium local area
networks.
• Nearly all modern desktop operating
systems, such as Macintosh OSX, Linux, and
Windows, can function as peer-to-peer
network operating systems.
 Advantages of a peer-to-peer
network:
• Less initial expense - No need for a dedicated
server.
• Setup - An operating system (such as
Windows XP) already in place may only need
to be reconfigured for peer-to-peer
operations.
 Disadvantages of a peer-to-peer
network:

• Decentralized - No central repository for files

and applications.
• Security - Does not provide the security
available on a client/server network
 Client/Server
• Client/server network operating systems allow
the network to centralize functions and
applications in one or more dedicated file
servers
• The file servers become the heart of the
system, providing access to resources and
providing security.
• Individual workstations (clients) have access
to the resources available on the file servers.
• The network operating system provides the
mechanism to integrate all the components of
the network and allow multiple users to
simultaneously share the same resources
irrespective of physical location.
• UNIX/Linux and the Microsoft family of
Windows Servers are examples of
client/server network operating systems.
 Advantages of a client/server
network:
• Centralized - Resources and data security are
controlled through the server.
• Scalability - Any or all elements can be replaced
individually as needs increase.
• Flexibility - New technology can be easily integrated
into system.
• Interoperability - All components
(client/network/server) work together.
• Accessibility - Server can be accessed remotely and
across multiple platforms.
 Disadvantages of a client/server
network:
• Expense - Requires initial investment in
dedicated server.
• Maintenance - Large networks will require a
large staff to ensure efficient operation.
• Dependence - When server goes down,
operations will cease across the network.
 Servers
• A server is a device with a particular set of
programs or protocols that provide various
services, which other machines or clients
request, to perform certain tasks.
• Together, a server and its clients form a
client/server network, which provides routing
systems and centralized access to information,
resources, stored data, etc.
• At the most ground level, one can consider it
as a technology solution that serves files, data,
print, fax resources and multiple computers.
• The advanced server versions, enable the user
to handle the accounts and passwords, allow
or limit the access to shared resources,
automatically support the data and access the
information remotely.
 Types of servers
• A server has many functions, and they come in
different types to facilitate different uses.

The multiple types of servers or types of

network servers are as follows:
• 1. Server Platform: Server platform is the
fundamental hardware or software for a
system which acts as an engine that drives the
server. It is often used synonymously with an
operating system.

• 2. Application Server: Also known as a type of

middleware, it occupies a substantial amount
of computing region between database
servers and the end user, and is commonly
used to connect the two.
• 3. Audio/Video Server: It provides multimedia
capabilities to websites by helping the user to
broadcast streaming multimedia content.

• 4. Chat Server: It serves the users to exchange data

in an environment similar to Internet newsgroup
which provides real-time discussion capabilities.

• 5. Fax Server: It is a good option for organizations

that seek minimum incoming and outgoing
telephone resources, but require to fax actual
documents.
• 6. FTP Server: It works on one of the oldest of
the Internet services, the file transfer
protocol. It provides a secure file transfer
between computers while ensuring file
security and transfer control.

• 7. Groupware Server: It is a software designed

that enables the users to work together,
irrespective of the location, through the
Internet or a corporate intranet and to
function together in a virtual atmosphere.
• 8. IRC Server: It is an ideal option for those
looking for real-time discussion capabilities.
Internet Relay Chat comprises different
network servers that enable the users to
connect to each other through an IRC network.

• 9. List Server: It provides a better way of

managing mailing lists. The server can be either
open interactive discussion for the people or a
one-way list that provides announcements,
newsletters or advertising.
• 10. Mail Server: It transfers and stores mails over
corporate networks through LANs, WANs and across the
Internet.

• 11. News Server: It serves as a distribution and delivery

source for many public news groups, approachable over
the USENET news network.

• 12. Proxy Server: It acts as a mediator between a client

program and an external server to filter requests,
improve performance and share connections.
• 13. Web Server: It provides static content to a
web browser by loading a file from a disk and
transferring it across the network to the user's
web browser. This exchange is intermediated
by the browser and the server,
communicating using HTTP.

• 14. Telnet Server: It enables the users to log

on to a host computer and execute tasks as if
they are working on a remote computer.
• 15. Virtual Servers: A virtual server is just like
a physical computer because it is committed
to an individual customer's demands, can be
individually booted and maintains privacy of a
separate computer.
• Basically, the distance among shared and
dedicated (hosting) servers is reduced
providing freedom to other customers, at a
less cost. Now, it has become very present in
the data center.
 HTTP
http request http request

Laptop w/ http response http response

Netscape Desktop w/
Server w/ Apache Explorer

• HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol

– Communication protocol between clients and servers
– Application layer protocol for WWW
• Client/Server model:
– Client: browser that requests, receives, displays object
– Server: receives requests and responds to them
• Protocol consists of various operations
– Few for HTTP 1.0 (RFC 1945, 1996)
– Many more in HTTP 1.1 (RFC 2616, 1999)
Web Servers: Implementation
Erich Nahum 23
and Performance
 So What’s a Web Server Do?
• Respond to client requests, typically a browser
– Can be a proxy, which aggregates client requests (e.g., AOL)
– Could be search engine spider or custom
• May have work to do on client’s behalf:
– Is the client’s cached copy still good?
– Is client authorized to get this document?
– Is client a proxy on someone else’s behalf?
– Run an arbitrary program (e.g., stock trade)
• Hundreds or thousands of simultaneous clients
• Hard to predict how many will show up on some day
• Many requests are in progress concurrently