While you may think the internet all runs in the same way, this isn’t the case.
There are now a number of different networks that can all be used for different reasons.
Two of these networks are decentralized and distributed networks.
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But what exactly are these, and how are they being used today?
Why Are Centralized Networks Becoming Old News?
It’s firstly important to understand why decentralized and distributed networks are becoming more and more popular each year.
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What’s wrong with traditional centralized networks?
Nevertheless, centralized networks are still the most popular connection punch in used today.
One may argue that this has to do with corporations desiring total control over their networks.
Image Credit: Crypto360/Flickr
However, this can lead to big companies facing big problems.
Ever seen one of your favorite social media websites go down?
So, centralized networks could definitely do with an upgrade.
Enter decentralized and distributed networks.
So, firstly, what’s a decentralized data pipe all about?
What Is a Decentralized connection?
These networks have a lot of great points, hence their increasing popularity.
But what do they entail?
A decentralized internet does not rely on a central server as traditional centralized networks do.
Instead, decentralized networks use a variety of different connection points or nodes.
Related:What Is a Decentralized VPN and How Does It Work?
So, where are such networks being used today?
Firstly, decentralized networks cannot be hacked nearly as easily as centralized networks.
This is because the invasion of one node will not result in control of the entire data pipe.
Additionally, decentralized networks allow for greater user control and privacy, given the nature of their structure.
Firstly, it can be very difficult to construct a decentralized internet, given its complex structure.
This can, in turn, make decentralized networks pretty pricey to keep going.
What does this entail, and is it being used today?
What Is a Distributed online grid?
Distributed and decentralized networks have some similarities, but they are not one and the same.
Essentially, each server gets the exact same amount of control.
However, distributed networks can become centralized, unlike fully decentralized networks.
This can be useful in some scenarios, such as the need for immediate system management from one server.
Some prefer decentralized networks because they do not have this option.
Related:What Is a Decentralized Blockchain ID?
So, what are the disadvantages of (the first kind of) distributed networks?
Like decentralized networks, they are also easily scalable upon the addition of more servers.
But decentralized networks aren’t perfect.
They can be expensive to create and maintain, similar to decentralized networks.
This can have a negative effect on decision-making speed and overall connection organization or coordination.
Therefore crypto owners are more trusting of their transactions.
While construction and maintenance continue to be an issue, that isn’t to say it always will be.
Here’s to the future of the internet!
