Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

In which type of network do servers and clients have defined roles?

1. Server-centric

2. Peer-to-peer

3. Client-centric

4. Server-to-peer

The correct answer is: Server-centric

In a server-centric network, the roles of servers and clients are clearly defined, where servers provide resources, data, and services, while clients request and utilize these resources. This structured approach allows for centralized management of resources and facilitates more effective data integrity and security measures. The server manages the data and services and is responsible for ensuring that clients have the necessary access and permissions. In contrast, a peer-to-peer network lacks such defined roles; all nodes typically function both as clients and servers, sharing resources among themselves without a dedicated server. The client-centric model implies a focus on the client's needs, but still relies on a centralized server to provide its services, which doesn't reflect the distinct hierarchical roles found in a server-centric model. The term server-to-peer is not commonly used to describe a type of network; instead, it might refer to models that blend peer-to-peer and client-server features, further obscuring the clear role distinction required for this concept.