COMPUTER NETWORKS — Centralized storage on a LAN What do we call the main computer on a network that stores files and delivers them to other connected computers (clients)?

Introduction / Context:
Local Area Networks (LANs) often use a centralized machine to store shared resources such as documents, databases, and applications. Recognizing the correct term improves your understanding of client–server architectures.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The machine stores files centrally.
• Other computers access these files over the network.
• We are naming the role, not the hardware component.

Concept / Approach:
A file server is a networked computer that hosts files and manages shared access, permissions, and sometimes versioning. Users on client machines retrieve, edit, and save data through network protocols (e.g., SMB, NFS). This pattern enables centralized backup, security, and collaboration.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify keywords: “stores the files” and “sent to computers that are networked together.”Match the role to the standard term → file server.Eliminate options that refer to parts (motherboard) or unrelated items (clip art, peripherals).

Verification / Alternative check:
Operating systems like Windows Server, Linux, and NAS appliances advertise “file server” functionality and provide access control lists and shares.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Clip art — images, not a server type.Motherboard — a hardware board inside a PC, not a network role.Peripheral — external devices (printers, scanners), not a central storage role.Network printer — outputs documents; does not centrally store files for clients.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “server” (a role/function) with a specific OS brand or a single hardware spec; many devices, including NAS boxes, implement file server roles.

Final Answer:
File server