Which network model has no individually designated server or client, with each machine able to act as both?

Which network model has no individually designated server or client, with each machine able to act as both?

• A. Client-Server
• B. Peer-to-Peer
• C. Cloud
• D. Hybrid

Answer: (B)

In a peer-to-peer network, there isn’t a single machine designated as the server or the client. Each device can request data from others and also provide data to others, so every node can act as both a consumer and a provider. This shared, decentralized approach means resources are distributed among all participants rather than centralized in one central server. A common example is file sharing, where peers upload and download pieces from multiple other peers. This differs from a client-server model, where there is a fixed server that serves resources to clients. Cloud setups rely on centralized data centers and services hosted in the cloud, and a hybrid model combines elements of both central servers and peer participation. So the absence of a dedicated server or client—and the ability for any node to take on either role—is what defines the peer-to-peer model.

In a peer-to-peer network, there isn’t a single machine designated as the server or the client. Each device can request data from others and also provide data to others, so every node can act as both a consumer and a provider. This shared, decentralized approach means resources are distributed among all participants rather than centralized in one central server. A common example is file sharing, where peers upload and download pieces from multiple other peers.

This differs from a client-server model, where there is a fixed server that serves resources to clients. Cloud setups rely on centralized data centers and services hosted in the cloud, and a hybrid model combines elements of both central servers and peer participation. So the absence of a dedicated server or client—and the ability for any node to take on either role—is what defines the peer-to-peer model.