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How many PCs can be connected without a server?

E

Eltano1

Golden Member
Yesterday I was tested during a job interview, and one question got me by surprise. How many PCs can be connected without a server, and what was the name of such type of network. I responded 254 and a Peer to Peer/ Workgroup, but I'm not sure if that is the right answer.
Can someone enlighted me, please?

Thanks and regards

Eltano
 
no, there is no limit to the number connected without a server....it's just a headache without.

I have 600+ in workgroup config sometimes
 
A few thoughts: a) It could be someone was mixing different ideas on limits of operating systems or some such. Obviously a mesh topology would create the greatest number of links between machines in the network, so at some point it would be overwhelming to go beyond a certain number, but I'm not aware of any hard limit per se. I suppose there may well be some limit within the Ethernet specs.. I just haven't run across it.

b) It may also be that someone was thinking of licensing or connection limits for certain operating systems. 😕

Given the same question, I'd have asked for specifics, citing different topologies, operating systems, security models and cabling issues. c) It could be the question was asked that way to see if you knew of the various issues that would factor into setting up a network infrastructure, and thus to see if you were locked into a particular mindset or were open to various ideas.

Interviews can be so much fun. 🙂

 
Computer with WinXP Home can maintain 5 concurrent active connections.

Computer with WinXP Pro can maintain 10 concurrent active connections.

:sun:
 
I agree, giving a set number to an open-ended question such as that was probably not the best response. Typically questions like this are asked not with the interviewer looking for a specific question, but to find out how the interviewee approaches the situation and making recommendations.

There is not a set limit, however a lot of services and configurations quickly become impractical the more nodes you stick on the LAN.

Another important question is how network services are provided and what your definition of a "server" are. Do you mean a file or print server? Where you referring to Active Directory? Or are you more concerned with infrastructure-type services (DHCP, DNS)? What about network segregation (so you can limit broadcasts, etc.)?

This is why I ignore half the threads that appear here, the questions are simply too open-ended for me to make a good response without gathering a lot more information and putting a lot of time into it 😉

Have fun,
Erik
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Computer with WinXP Home can maintain 5 concurrent active connections.

Computer with WinXP Pro can maintain 10 concurrent active connections.

:sun:
Click to expand...
Without knowing what they are looking to "serve" that's a bad answer.
 
That was not limit was my first though, but since the question was not really clear, and the rest of the test was a walk in the park (at least for me) I elected to put a number (254).

Thanks guys for all your inputs (as usual, I always learn something from you)

Eltano
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Doesn't Microsoft recommend a server after like 10 or 25 workstations or something?
Click to expand...
I'm sure somebody at Microsoft made some such recommendation, could be related to the fact that when using XP/2K Pro as a server it will only support 10 concurrent connections.

Of course you could have 100 users on the network that accesses the workstation-used-as-a-server, so long as you didnt hit 10 at once you'd be fine.
 
The point is you'd have to know a bit about the potential employer's network or at least what they were leaning toward; it could just as easily be a mixed environment or non-MS entirely. There's just no way to know from the information given.
 
How many pcs can be connected without a server?
Click to expand...

This is such a general question. The answer is an infinite amount. With the correct config on switches and routers any one pc could access any other pc physically connected.


Servers help manage data and the flow of that data. do you have to have a "server" at your home in order to connect to broadband internet? no you don't
 
Servers help manage data and the flow of that data. do you have to have a "server" at your home in order to connect to broadband internet? no you don't
Click to expand...
And than it really gets obscured when you start talking about what kind of a server you need. Remember a "server" isnt neccisarily a physical piece of hardware, a server can be purely software.

I could be argued that the router you have in your house running core network services such as DHCP and DNS are "servers" (how are they any differant than a Windows or Linux box configured to provide identical funcationality)...

As has already been said a dozen times in this thread, this is very open to interpretation.
 
Remember guys, the questions was "how many can connect NOT using a server", and what is the name for this type of Network?.

Eltano
 
10 and peer to peer was what they were looking for.

I would have just owned the interviewer and said 256^4 and IP.
🙂
 
Hehe, Spidey07, I wish I have just 10% of your knowledge. At least I got half of the answer right. 🙂

Eltano
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Computer with WinXP Home can maintain 5 concurrent active connections.

Computer with WinXP Pro can maintain 10 concurrent active connections.

:sun:
Click to expand...

that doesn't answer the question though😛 That assumes that every pc ios maxing out its concurrent conenctions. I doubt 10 people would access EVERY machine if using XP pro.


my answer woudl have been:
in a configuration where simply file sharing is needed and a single subnet is being used, 254 clients would be able to coexist together. Of course depending on the Operating systems in use, concurrent connections between users would vary. Now if this situation assumes the use of more robust equipment such as L3 switches, routers, and Operating systems such as Linux, the amount of computers that could coexist would then rely soley on the numer of concurrent conenctions required on the msot accessed machine, and the IP scheme used
Click to expand...


😛


I would then change the subject and ask the man if he would like to ditch work and go grab a few beers...
 
I still don't understand the 254...A class C would be 253, but a class is is a few more then that. It's really too open ended for a real answer.
 
I agreed,the question was not clear enough. If I have the requirements, it would have be more easy to answer.

Eltano
 
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