Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Peer-to-Peer Networks
By contrast, on a peer-to-peer network, every computer is equal and can communicate
with any other computer on the network to which it has been granted access rights. Es-
sentially, every computer on a peer-to-peer network can function as both a server and a
client; any computer on a peer-to-peer network is considered a server if it shares a print-
er, a folder, a drive, or some other resource with the rest of the network. This is why you
might hear about client and server activities, even when the discussion is about a peer-to-
peer network.
Peer-to-peernetworkscanbeassmallastwocomputersoraslargeashundredsofsystems
and devices. Although there is no theoretical limit to the size of a peer-to-peer network,
performance,security,andaccessbecomeamajorheadacheonpeer-basednetworksasthe
number of computers increases. In addition, Microsoft imposes a limit of only 5, 10 or 20
concurrent client connections to computers running Windows. This means that a maxim-
um of 20 (or fewer) systems will be able to concurrently access shared files or printers on
a given system. This limit is expressed as the “Maximum Logged On Users” and can be
seen by issuing the NET CONFIG SERVER command at a command prompt. This limit
is normally unchangeable and is fixed in the specific version and edition of Windows as
follows:
• 5 users: Windows XP Home, Vista Starter/Home Basic
• 10 users: Windows NT, 2000, XP Professional, Vista Home Premium/Business/Enter-
prise/Ultimate
• 20 users: Windows 7 (all editions)
When more than the allowed limit of users or systems try to connect, the connection is
denied and the client sees one of the following error messages:
Operating system error 71. No more connections can be made to this remote
computer
at this time because there are already as many connections as the com-
puter can accept.
System error 71 has occurred. This remote computer has reached its con-
nection limit,
you cannot connect at this time.
Even though it is called a “Server” OS, Windows Home Server also has the same
10-connection limit as the non-Home client Windows versions of XP and Vista. If you
needaserverthatcanhandlemorethan10or20clients,IrecommendusingaLinux-based
server OS (such as Ubuntu Server) or one of the professional Windows server products
(such as Windows 2000 Server, Server 2003, Server 2008, Essential Business Server, or
