When shopping for a peer-to-peer network, you should keep three things in mind:
* How good are its communication abilities?
Most Peer-to-Peer packages include their own e-email and chat capabilities, allowing both e-mail and real-time communications. A good package provides users with a list of other users available for hats and has both single-mode and ulti-mode chat utilities.
* How capable is its resource sharing?
Although peer-to-peer network often expect workstation to keep its own applications on file, you may prefer to locate some applications centrally and let people pick them up from another machine. You'll also be sharing devices such as drives, CD-ROM, and printers. The best packages notify users when a workstation with shared resources leaves the network.
* How suitable is if for small-office use (since that's likely what you'll be using it for?)
Because peer-to-peer networks rarely have network managers, you'll want a network that is as easy to control as possible. A good peer-to-peer should be easy to install and set up, and have good print and file management tools to control shared resources. Although peer-to-peer networks are not famous for their security, you'll also want some way of controlling access to shared resource.
Weighing the Advantages of using a Peer-to-Peer network:
At first glance, client-server networks seem to have all the advantages. when you look again, however, you discover that isn't necessarily the case. For small networks, peer-to-peer has a number of advantages:
* It doesn't require a dedicated workstation.
* It's an easy way to connect and share information on the workstations that you already have in your office.
* It's cheaper than duplicating your purchases of printers, CD-ROMs etc. for every person in the office, and probably more efficient for printer sharing than products such as print buffers and physical print spoolers.
* It costs less than a server-server LAN and doesn't require a degree in engineering to set up and administer.
In short, peer-to-peer networking does not offer the flexibility or the complete security of a file server workstation relationship, but for a small installation it will probably more than fit the bill.
* How good are its communication abilities?
Most Peer-to-Peer packages include their own e-email and chat capabilities, allowing both e-mail and real-time communications. A good package provides users with a list of other users available for hats and has both single-mode and ulti-mode chat utilities.
* How capable is its resource sharing?
Although peer-to-peer network often expect workstation to keep its own applications on file, you may prefer to locate some applications centrally and let people pick them up from another machine. You'll also be sharing devices such as drives, CD-ROM, and printers. The best packages notify users when a workstation with shared resources leaves the network.
* How suitable is if for small-office use (since that's likely what you'll be using it for?)
Because peer-to-peer networks rarely have network managers, you'll want a network that is as easy to control as possible. A good peer-to-peer should be easy to install and set up, and have good print and file management tools to control shared resources. Although peer-to-peer networks are not famous for their security, you'll also want some way of controlling access to shared resource.
Weighing the Advantages of using a Peer-to-Peer network:
At first glance, client-server networks seem to have all the advantages. when you look again, however, you discover that isn't necessarily the case. For small networks, peer-to-peer has a number of advantages:
* It doesn't require a dedicated workstation.
* It's an easy way to connect and share information on the workstations that you already have in your office.
* It's cheaper than duplicating your purchases of printers, CD-ROMs etc. for every person in the office, and probably more efficient for printer sharing than products such as print buffers and physical print spoolers.
* It costs less than a server-server LAN and doesn't require a degree in engineering to set up and administer.
In short, peer-to-peer networking does not offer the flexibility or the complete security of a file server workstation relationship, but for a small installation it will probably more than fit the bill.
