In cryptocurrencies there are different types of computer networks. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, which make them more or less suitable for different tasks.
Computer networks can be arranged in different ways, but three of them are the most common. These are: the centralized, decentralized and distributed network. Each of these configurations has its advantages and disadvantages, differences, and things in common.
Centralized networks
A centralized computer network is one in which each computer that forms it is peripheral and is connected to a central unit. All the control and management of the network falls on this central unit. In other words, all the responsibility and decision-making power falls on a single element, in this case a machine or an entity.
This network configuration is the most widely used due to its simplicity and scalability. Core networks are capable of handling large amounts of information quickly, making them perfect for high-demand services. Nevertheless, centralized networks have a rather obvious and dangerous flaw; If a malicious attack on the central unit is successfully carried out, it would affect the entire network, since the operation of the network depends on the central unit and its failure makes communication with the rest of the computers impossible.
An example of this type of network is company data servers. These services are completely centralized, which is why a failure is capable of affecting everyone within the company. Of course, to avoid this you have backups and parallel servers, but as such the network remains completely centralized.
Ripple It is a clear example of a centralized type blockchain network. Although it has several nodes. distributed throughout the world, the decisions for its control are centralized in the Ripple company. Another example is the platform Hyperledger, a free software project whose purpose is to create blockchain networks for business use and with centralized control adjusted to the needs of these companies.
Decentralized networks
This type of computer networks differs from centralized ones in that they do not have a single central unit. Instead, there is a series of computers that work together to control and manage the network. In this way, a certain level of fault tolerance is added thanks to the fact that this set of computers take on certain tasks on the network.
However, In this type of network there is still the risk of a total catastrophic failure. This is possible because decentralized networks may still fail if the network coordinator is taken out of service. With the collapse of a coordinating computer, the rest of the computers on that subnet are left without service and disconnected from the main network. If, for example, the main network coordinating computer goes down, the rest of the subnets are scattered. In either case, the loss of a coordinator would lead to a disconnection of lesser or greater magnitude.
A misconception about this type of network is that the coordinators' actions are completely autonomous. The truth is that these act as a central unit within a larger network. A vestige of centralized networks that still survives within this model.
A good example of this type of network is Facebook, Twitter, Google. All these services have subnets within a large network and together they are capable of handling all the services they provide. In the world of cryptocurrencies, a decentralized network example case is Dash o EOS, whose operation depends on this type of network organization.
Distributed networks
It is a type of network whose main characteristic is the absence of an individual or collective center. The computers in these networks join one another in such a way that none of them have the power to filter the information that is transmitted on the network. Due to this, the idea of center and periphery disappears, basic characteristics in centralized and decentralized networks. But thanks to this structure, if any computer fails it will not disconnect the rest. This turns a distributed network into a practical, robust and efficient network.
The clearest example of this type of network is the Internet. From its inception, the Internet was thought of as a fully distributed network. In principle, it was a very centralized network due to the few computers that were connected at the time. But as interconnected computers grew, the Internet became a distributed network.
Another good example of distributed networks is file sharing networks. P2P like Bittorrent. But in the blockchain world the clearest example of distributed networks has it Bitcoin. Your network is distributed among a series of interconnected nodes that are responsible as a whole to maintain its operation. There is no control nucleus or even a central decision-making structure, everything in the network is managed in a distributed, open and community way.
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