Centralized Computing

Definition - What does Centralized Computing mean?

Centralized computing is a type of computing architecture where all or most of the processing/computing is performed on a central server. Centralized computing enables the deployment of all of a central server's computing resources, administration and management. The central server, in turn, is responsible for delivering application logic, processing and providing computing resources (both basic and complex) to the attached client machines.

Techopedia explains Centralized Computing

Centralized computing is similar to a client/server architecture where one or more client PCs are directly connected to a central server. Typically, each client PC is a thin client with no or very limited computing capacity. They generally have a visual display, basic input devices and a thin CPU with networking capabilities. Client PCs are connected over the network to a central server that processes their computations. The central server is deployed with the primary application, massive computing resources, storage and other high-end computing-intensive features. All the client nodes are entirely dependent on the central server for any application access, computing, storage, Internet access and security. Moreover, the administrator in a centralized computing infrastructure manages all the client nodes from the central server interface.