TechDogs-"An Introductory Guide To Servers"

Servers

An Introductory Guide To Servers

By TechDogs Editorial Team

TechDogs
Overall Rating

Overview

“Server Error – The server encountered an unexpected internal error or misconfiguration and could not complete your request.

You would have come across this error at least once in your lifetime of working with computers. Did that error make you wonder what this server actually was? A Computer Server could mean many things depending on how it’s being used. You could call it the Leonardo DiCaprio of computer systems (talk about being versatile!). If you use a server in your emailing process, it becomes a mail server. If you use it for your website, it becomes a web server. Basically, it aces every role that’s assigned to it.

However, the bigger question is–what is a Server? If you’re curious to know what Servers really mean beyond just a term that pops up as an error every now and then, spare 10 minutes to go over this article. It covers everything from the origin to the future of computer servers and how they benefit businesses.
TechDogs-You Just Got SERVER-ED-"An Introductory Guide To Servers"
Believe it or not, computer servers are not very different from the servers we have at a restaurant. Typically, after being seated in a restaurant, a server offers a menu card with a list of items that can be served. You place your order - a series of requests made to the server - an iced beverage, penne pasta in Pomodoro sauce and a plate of Belgian waffles to finish.

Now, the server, the busboy, the bartender, the head chef and his entire team need to work together. The bartender must ensure the drink is served before the pasta. The head chef needs to get the pasta prepared, hand it to the server to be delivered to your table. The busboy needs to clear the table and set it up before the dessert is served. In a nutshell, a lot is going on at the same time! Although, you’re not bothered by these backstage shenanigans, right? You only interact with the server and leave with a satisfied craving for waffles.

Similarly, a computer server would have a list of data (menu) stored on it. You would request to retrieve some information from it or run an application through it (place an order). It will connect with other computers in your network to get your request fulfilled and share the needful with you. It takes care of all the requests coming in from different computers and fulfills them. Just like a restaurant server, it interfaces with others behind the scenes and completes your order. While we hope this analogy helped you get a basic idea of computer servers, let’s look at the history, benefits and types of servers so that we’re able to provide you a complete dish, not a half-baked one. Let’s get started! 
 

What Are Computer Servers?


TechDogs-What Are "Computer Servers?"-Image Showing How Computers Are Connected To Servers And Share Data With Server
To understand servers, think of a portable power bank – it stores charge in it so you can use it to charge your electronic devices later. Similarly, a server stores data that can be used later, whenever needed.

It is the main computer where you store all your resources, data, services, programs and applications. This main computer is then linked to personal systems, to form a network. A server is present to handle and deliver all requests that these personal systems make. For instance, a server that fulfills your request to launch a website would be a web server. The interesting part is the network where the server operates. This network could be as small as a bunch of PCs that are connected together (known as the Local Area Network) or could be as extensive as Wide Area Network (WAN), better known as the Internet. No matter the size of the network, a server makes sharing of resources within the network quite easy!  However, it wasn’t always that way; let’s check out the history to know more.
 

History And Evolution Of Computer Servers


Back in the 1980s, with the advent of the computers, the need to share and store information on computers started to emerge. Since need is the mother of all invention, the concept of ‘terminal servers’ was introduced. These terminal servers were nothing more than mini-computers that acted as the center-point of all the connected computers. Through terminal servers, the computers were able to share information with one another easily. This, however, was a very limited interaction within a closed group of computers, not across a wide network.

Then came the age of data warehouses, which were large computers that could store information remotely and were popularly known as ‘file servers’ back then.

Later on, the internet took the world by storm and that’s when a web server was born – the World Wide Web (WWW). Within two years, the internet grew from one web server to 200 servers strong and today has countless servers. In terms of structure, these servers moved from being physical machines to virtual infrastructure in the age of the cloud.

We brought up a multitude of server types while discussing the evolution of servers. Now, it’s time to understand them.
 

What Are The Different Types Of Computer Servers?


Servers perform functions ranging from file storage and managing printers to offering database services. Depending on the function they perform, servers can be of the following types:
 
  • Mail Server

    Handles and delivers e-mail over a network, usually  the Internet. A mail server ensures that the emails you send and receive follow the standard email protocol.

  • FTP Servers

    FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It helps users and applications exchange data and resources within local networks as well as across the Internet. When you upload a file, you share data from a personal network to the FTP server and when you download a file, you transfer files back from the FTP server.

  • Web Server

    A web server works on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). It essentially responds to the client (computers in the network) requests that are made on the World Wide Web and shares relevant web pages accordingly. It also stores and processes these webpages. Some web servers allow you to edit the data on them; these are known as Open Source Web Servers.

  • Application Server

    Designed exclusively for applications, the application server provides the environment to host and run applications.

  • Collaboration Server

    Support the execution of shared work activities of teams such as software development teams, to work together irrespective of geographical or time zone differences.

  • Proxy Server

    Acts as a channel between a client and a server. It ensures the privacy and security of a private network by acting as a proxy or firewall for it. If you want some information off the web, a proxy server makes a request on your behalf, gets the response, and then shares that information with you.


TechDogs-What Are The Different Types Of Computer Servers?-Image Describing The work Of "Proxy Server"
 
  • Virtual Server

    An offsite data center that shares its resources with multiple server users who each have control over it. Since they're not set in a physical space, virtual servers are a cost-effective choice for those who don't mind sharing their server with other users. It works the same way as any other server but on shared hardware.

  • Server Platforms

    A little different from the rest, a server platform is a group of servers(hardware) along with the operating system(software) which powers them.


Some of the leading servers would be Microsoft Windows servers, Linux / Unix servers, NetWare and Cloud servers including Google’s Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud. What’s the need for this array of servers, you may ask? Here’s why businesses need servers.
 

Why Do Businesses Need Computer Servers?


Isn’t it frustrating when your machine gets super slow due to too much data stored on your desktop? How do you take care of it? More often than not, freeing up memory does the trick–so you upload most of the data to your Google Drive. Once on the drive, it’s easier to share, doesn’t get lost and is secure. Most importantly, your system starts working faster. Similarly, when you store your business data on a server, your systems work faster and smoother.

 In case you’re looking for a more direct list of benefits of Computer Servers, here it goes:
 
  • It protects your business data by keeping it in reliable and security-enhanced infrastructure.

  • It regularly prepares a backup of your data to prevent data loss.

  • Allows you to work and share information with a remote team.

  • Speeds up the PCs in your network by storing large, resource-consuming chunks of data and freeing up memory.

  • Makes setting up new computers in a network super easy.

  • Helps you add users and deploy new applications in a jiffy.


Those are some of the benefits that servers offer in the present times but they’re evolving by the minute to serve you better. Here’s what the future holds.
 

The Road Ahead: Future Of Computer Servers


TechDogs-The Road Ahead: "Future Of Computer Servers"-Picture Of A Data Center With Servers
There are three major trends that are going to shape the future of computer servers. First, there’s the increased use of virtualization technology, which would do away with server infrastructures and lead to virtual hosts where your servers could reside. Secondly, the era of the cloud would push businesses to migrate their entire infrastructure to the cloud. Last, but definitely not the least, would be the advent of dispensable servers, where a server’s failing or shutting down would have no impact on the end-user. Basically, you’d stop seeing that internal server error that you sometimes encounter trying to load some page or launch an app.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Servers?


Servers act as central repositories where data, resources, services, programs, and applications are stored. They form the backbone of a network, linking personal systems together. Servers handle and deliver requests from these systems, facilitating tasks such as launching websites or accessing data. Whether it's a small Local Area Network (LAN) or the vast expanse of the Internet (Wide Area Network or WAN), servers make sharing resources within the network seamless and efficient. Just as a restaurant server coordinates behind-the-scenes activities to fulfill your order, a computer server interfaces with other devices to meet the needs of users within the network.
 

What Are The Different Types Of Computer Servers?


Servers come in various types, each designed for specific functions within a network. The types include Mail Servers, handling email transmission; FTP Servers, facilitating file transfers; Web Servers, responding to HTTP requests on the World Wide Web; Application Servers, hosting and running applications; Collaboration Servers, supporting shared work activities; Proxy Servers, acting as intermediaries for privacy and security; Virtual Servers, sharing resources with multiple users; and Server Platforms, combining hardware and operating systems. Each type serves a unique purpose, enhancing the efficiency and functionality of network operations.
 

Why Do Businesses Need Computer Servers?


Businesses rely on computer servers for numerous reasons, primarily to enhance the efficiency of their operations. Servers protect and secure business data, offering reliability and security. They facilitate data backup to prevent loss, support remote team collaboration, and speed up networked computers by efficiently managing large datasets. Additionally, servers simplify the process of setting up new computers in a network, adding users, and deploying new applications. The advantages include improved data management, enhanced collaboration, and streamlined IT processes, making servers an indispensable asset for businesses.

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