TCP/IP and protocols

Compare and contrast thin-client computing with thick-client computing

1. Place the following statements into the correct location depending on whether they are considered an advantage or disadvantage of thin-
client or thick-client computing.

Thin-client computing Thick-client computing

Advantages
Disadvantages

More robust and reliable, resulting in greater

“up-time” and availabilitySoftware updates
of services canmore
Much be done onceason
secure, alladata
server
is stored on one central server.
and automatically transfer across to every client
Every client needs its own software installation, Preferred for running heavy-duty or
increasing the workload of the network administration teamresource-hungry software applications
Easy to set up and configure – e.g., add new terminals to a network Oftenreliable
more expensive – requires higher-spec client computers
Dependent on a powerful,
More prone to integrity issues and expensive central server
Very reliant on the central server – if the server goes down,
due to its non-centralised, distrustedMuch
nature
higher bandwidth demand Can operate without a constant connection to a central server
most functionality is lost
TCP/IP and protocols
Compare and contrast thin-client computing with thick-client computing

1. Place the following statements into the correct location depending on whether they are considered an advantage or disadvantage of thin-
client or thick-client computing.

Thin-client computing Thick-client computing

Software updates can be done once on a server More robust and reliable, resulting in greater
and automatically transfer across to every client “up-time” and availability of services
Advantages

Preferred for running heavy-duty or

Easy to set up and configure – e.g., add new terminals to a network
resource-hungry software applications

Much more secure, as all data is stored on one central server. Can operate without a constant connection to a central server

Very reliant on the central server – if the server goes down,

Often more expensive – requires higher-spec client computers
Disadvantages

most functionality is lost

Every client needs its own software installation,

Dependent on a powerful, reliable and expensive central server
increasing the workload of the network administration team

More prone to integrity issues

Much higher bandwidth demand
due to its non-centralised, distrusted nature