Home · A-Level Computer Science 9618 · Communication · LANs, WANs, client-server and peer-to-peer · Practice
AS · Practice questions · LANs, WANs, client-server and peer-to-peer

Pick the right model.

Six original Cambridge-style questions on network models, with mark-scheme style solutions.

Original questions All questions on this page are original work, written in the Cambridge AS & A Level style. They are not from past papers. They test the same concepts and skills the syllabus rewards.
Keep these straight

Roles decide the model.

01
Recall
[3 marks]

Give three benefits of connecting the computers in an office to form a network.

  • Hardware such as printers and the internet connection can be shared. ✓
  • Data and files can be shared and stored centrally, so everyone uses the same version. ✓
  • Users can communicate (email, messaging) / backups and security can be managed centrally. ✓
02
Explain
[4 marks]

Describe two differences between a LAN and a WAN.

  • A LAN covers a small area such as one building or site ... ✓
  • ... whereas a WAN covers a large geographical area such as several countries. ✓
  • A LAN's infrastructure is owned by the organisation ... ✓
  • ... whereas a WAN uses communication links leased from or provided by third parties (e.g. telephone lines, satellites). ✓
03
Explain
[4 marks]

Explain the roles of the computers in a client-server network, and how these differ in a peer-to-peer network.

  • The server provides services/resources (e.g. stores files, manages printing, authenticates users). ✓
  • The clients send requests to the server and use the services it provides. ✓
  • In peer-to-peer there is no central server. ✓
  • Each peer can both request resources from and provide resources to other peers. ✓
04
Apply
[4 marks]

A small charity has 4 computers in one room. It has very little money and no technical staff. Recommend a network model and justify your choice.

  • Peer-to-peer. ✓
  • No server needs to be bought, so it is cheaper. ✓
  • It is simple to set up and run without a specialist network manager. ✓
  • With only 4 computers, the lack of central management and slower performance as it grows are not significant. ✓
05
Analysis
[4 marks]

A university is replacing its library computers. They are used only to search an online catalogue and to run web-based applications. Discuss whether thin clients or thick clients are more suitable.

  • Thin clients are suitable because the tasks need little local processing. ✓
  • Thin clients are cheaper and software is updated once, on the server. ✓
  • However, thin clients cannot work if the server or network fails, so the network must be reliable. ✓
  • Thick clients would cost more and need individual updates, which is unnecessary for these tasks; so thin clients are the better choice. ✓
06
Analysis
[2 marks]

A student says: "Client-server networks have no drawbacks because the server does everything." Give two drawbacks of the client-server model.

  • If the server fails, the clients lose access to its services and data (single point of failure). ✓
  • Servers are expensive and need a specialist network manager / the server can become a bottleneck when many clients make requests at once. ✓

Mark this once you have attempted all six and checked your working. It records a Practiced badge on the topic and adds a one-time bonus. Revealing the solutions alone does not count.