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.