200-301 Question 41
Select 3You are designing a network architecture for a small company that requires a simple, scalable solution. The company plans to host its web server and database server on separate virtual machines. Which of the following characteristics best describe a two-tier architecture in this scenario?
- A
The web server and database server handle different layers of application processing.
- B
The client directly communicates with both the web server and the database server.
- C
The web server acts as an intermediary between the client and the database server.
- D
A two-tier architecture requires a separate load balancer layer for scalability.
- E
The web server and database server can reside on the same physical host for small deployments.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, C, E
Explanation
A two-tier architecture is a client-server architecture where the client interacts with the application layer (web server), which then communicates with the database layer. The architecture is simple and scalable, making it suitable for small to medium-sized deployments. It is also possible to host both layers on the same physical server in smaller environments.
- A. Correct.
Correct: In a two-tier architecture, the web server processes the presentation layer, and the database server handles the data layer, making them responsible for different layers of application processing.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect: In a two-tier architecture, the client communicates only with the web server, which then interacts with the database server. The client does not directly communicate with both servers.
- C. Correct.
Correct: In a two-tier architecture, the web server serves as an intermediary between the client (presentation layer) and the database server (data layer).
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect: A two-tier architecture does not inherently require a load balancer layer. Load balancers are more common in three-tier or multi-tier architectures for scalability.
- E. Correct.
Correct: For small deployments, it is possible for the web server and database server to reside on the same physical host while still adhering to the two-tier design.