What is a Database Server

What is a database server? It is similar to data warehouse where the website store or maintain their data and information. A Database Server is a computer in a LAN that is dedicated to database storage and retrieval. The database server holds the Database Management System (DBMS) and the databases. Upon requests from the client machines, it searches the database for selected records and passes them back over the network.

A database server can be defined as a server dedicated to providing database services. Such a server runs the database software. A database server can typically be seen in a client-server environment where it provides information sought by the client systems.

A database server is useful for organizations that have a lot of data to deal with on a regular basis. If you have client-server architecture where the clients need process data too frequently, it is better to work with a database server. Some organizations use the file server to store and process data. A database server is much more efficient than a file server.

In Database Network the client execute SQL requests to the database server. The Network Database Server Process the client database request and the executed answers of SQL command are come back over the network computer. In the whole concept Database server serves its own power to process the request or search the requested result. The Database server some time also known as SQL engine.

All database functions are controlled by the database server. Any type of computer can be used as database server. It may be microcomputer, minicomputer or mainframe computer. In large organization networks, the mainframe computers are used as server.

Some people refer to the central DBMS functions as the back-end functions, whereas the application programs on the client computer as front-end programs. You can say that client is the application, which is used to interface with the DBMS, while database server is a DBMS.

The Database server manages the recovery security services of the DBMS. It enforces the constraints that are specified inside the DBMS. It controls and manages all the clients that are connected to it. It handles all database access and control functions.

It provides concurrent access control. It provides better security and server hides the DBMS from clients. It provides the multi-user environment. Several users can access the database simultaneously. All the data is stored on the data server therefore, the DBA can easily create the backup of the database.

A standard called ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) provides an application programming interface (API), which allows client side programs to call the DBMS on the server side. For this purpose, necessary software should be installed on both sides (i.e., client and server). Hence, a client program connects to the Database server and sends requests (queries) using the ODBC Application Programming Interface (API). The-server processes the queries and sends back the results of queries to the client program, which are processed by the client computer.