Peer-to-peer Networks (Workgroup Network)

In a peer-to-peer network, also referred to as a workgroup solution, systems both provide and receive services. Each workgroup member acts both like a server and a workstation. Resource and security management is handled at the individual system level. The software providing these services might run as a separate application or might be integrated into the operating system.

some Features and characteristics this type of environment are:

• home networks
  
• less than 10 workstations
  
• sharing resources
  
• Workstations nonnally store their own application and data files-
  
• Processing occurs at the workstation. Therefore, speed is primarily a factor of the workstation used.
  
• Each node on the system talks to all other nodes.
  
• Peer-to-peer communications make some level of file a,nd printer sharing possible.
  
• No one system is in charge of the network. -.Security might be limited.
  
• This type of system doesn't work well with more than approximately 10 workstations or nodes because Microsoft limits most peer connectivity to 10 simultaneous connections to a drive, shared folder, printer, and so on.
  Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional,
  and Windows XP Professional have integrated support for peer-to-peer configurations.