Server: A server is a computer program or device in the network that provides resources, data, services, or programs to the client computer such as login requests processing, files access and storage, internet access, printing access and many other types of services. This architecture is called the client-server model. Servers are often referred to as dedicated.
In computing, the specialized machine that processes requests and delivers data over a network connection is also frequently referred to as a server. Servers mostly equipped with extra hardware such as plenty of external memory (RAM), more data store capacity (hard disks), high processing speed, and other features.
In the client/server programming model, a server is an instance of a computer program that provides services to another program on a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) over the Internet, which may be running in the same or other computers. Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks. A given application in a computer may function as a client with requests for services from other programs and also as a server of requests from other programs.
We’ll be covering the following topics in this tutorial:
Type of server:
In the following list, there are some common types of servers:
It is the one that stores several types of files and distributes them to other clients in the network.
Print server: controls one or more printers and accepts print jobs from other clients on the network, queuing print jobs (although you can also change the priority of different printouts), and performing most or all of the other functions that in a workplace would be carried out to obtain a task of impression if the printer was connected directly with the port of printer of the place of work.
Mail server: stores, sends, receives, routes and performs other operations related to e-mail for clients on the network.
Fax server: stores, sends, receives, routes and performs other functions necessary for the proper transmission, reception and distribution of faxes.
Telephony server: performs functions related to telephony, such as answering machine, performing the functions of an interactive system for a voice response, storing voice messages, routing calls and also controlling the network or the internet. E.g., excessive voice over IP (VOIP) entry, etc.
Proxy server: performs a specific type of functions on behalf of other clients in the network to increase the operation of specific operations (e.g., prefetching and deposit documents or other data that are requested very frequently), also provides security services, that is, it includes a firewall. It allows managing access to the internet in a computer network allowing or denying access to different websites.
Remote Access Server (RAS): controls the modem lines of the monitors or other communication channels of the network so that the requests connect to the network from a remote location, answer incoming telephone calls or acknowledge the request of the network and perform the necessary authentication and other necessary procedures to register a user in the network.
Web server: stores HTML documents, images, text files, scripts, and other Web material composed of data (collectively known as content), and distributes this content to clients who request it on the network.
Database server: provides database services to other programs or other computers, as defined by the client-server model. You can also refer to those computers (servers) dedicated to executing those programs, providing the service.
Backup server: has the network backup software installed and has large amounts of network storage on hard drives or other forms of storage (tape, etc.) available for use to make sure that the loss of the primary server does not affect the network. This technique is also called clustering.
Security Server: It has specialised software to stop malicious intrusions. Usually, they have antivirus, antispyware, antimalware, in addition to having redundant firewalls of different levels and layers to avoid attacks, the security servers vary depending on their use and importance.
Difference between Network Server and dedicated server
Network Server is a computer in Network that is designated to provide one or more network service. For example file server, database server etc.
A network server is a specialized computer that serves as a central repository of data and programs and all the computer across a network connect to it and make requests.
A network server has the same hardware as a workstation, but they differ in their functions and use. Network servers help simplify the workload for system administrators.
Any network security and configuration can apply to a network server instead of individually passing to different computers connected to the network.
A network server designated to provide one particular service is known as a dedicated server. A dedicated server is a type of remote server that entirely dedicated to the client company and allows one company to lease and access; it is called a dedicated server. For example, if a computer is assigned for database service only then that computer is known as a dedicated database server.
Dinesh Thakur holds an B.C.A, MCDBA, MCSD certifications. Dinesh authors the hugely popular