Technically, a server is a computer that runs a program that allows you to connect to other computers over the Internet. So it’s kind of like a web browser, but it’s more powerful. But really, the word server is just a term used to describe a computer that runs something.
What is a Server?
A server is a computer that connects to the Internet. Think of it as the phone system for the Internet. It allows you to play games online, stream videos, and store all of your important documents. It also acts as a place for other people to send messages to you and vice versa.
A server is a computer that’s always running. It’s always listening for requests and passing them on to the person who made the request. A web browser is like a server. You can go to a website, and if you type in a URL like www.codeinstitute.net, your web browser will request the server at that web address.
The server will tell your web browser where to send the request and which web page to show you when it comes back. If you want to use the same web browser on multiple computers, you can save the browser settings from knowing where to go.
What Does a Server Do?
When people say “server,” they often mean a single computer that serves up a website or other content to the entire world. But it can also be a single machine that acts as a gateway between different computers on your network, allowing them to communicate with each other.
It is a powerful workhorse connected to the Internet and provides a gateway to other computers on your network. You can use it to host websites, store data, and provide connections between computers.
What is a web server?
A web server is a computer that receives the request to load the content on your website and then sends the requested file back to the requesting user. Your web server can be anything from a minimal home-based one to an extremely powerful business-grade server. They are vital to the operation of any website, and you must have a server with all the power and speed you need to run your website optimally. A web server is a very fancy piece of hardware that connects your computer to the Internet.
What is a server in computer networks?
The server is the central part of a network, and it stores and holds all the information. A computer needs a server to access the Internet. Therefore, it is essential that a server is reliable and has the correct amount of RAM and hard drive space. When a server is online, it receives and sends data to all the other servers.
It gives functionality to other programs or devices known as clients. The client-server model is the name of this type of architecture, and several processes or devices are involved in a single overall computation. The term “services” refers to the different functions that servers can provide. Sharing data and resources across several clients, or conducting computations on behalf of a client, are examples of these services.
One server can handle many clients simultaneously. On the same machine, a client program may be running. You can use a server on another machine, and it will be accessible via network. Examples of different servers include:
- Database servers
- Mail servers
- Server software
- File servers
- Web servers
- Game servers
Small-scale business servers
A small business’s IT stack would be incomplete without servers. These high-performance computers assist your business in analysing and managing devices, network data, and other data management, such as email and the Internet.
It is possible to modify or personalise your physical servers to match your company’s specific demands. So, what are the capabilities of these devices?
Starting with hosting a website that needs a lot of data, they may assist you in setting up a network drive for your staff. Unfortunately, a desktop computer or laptop can’t undertake the kind of heavy lifting that a server can do.
Think of them as the underlying structure of your organisation and its network. It would not be easy to maximise scalability and efficiency without the resources provided by servers. Therefore, their inclusion in a comprehensive strategy for business continuity is essential.
Small businesses can better handle increasing network workloads with the increased RAM and CPU power, knowing that their systems will always be up and running when they’re needed. In addition, because servers minimise the strain on network equipment, small businesses can save money over time by purchasing them.
Different types of servers
There are many different types of servers. For example, we have discussed how a normal computer can act as a server. This is a web server, and it serves HTML pages as the user requests them. Other types of servers include:
Mail Server
A mail server allows us to send an email to anyone, anywhere, instantly. However, many of us may not know that when we send an email, it goes through various mail servers before it lands in the recipient’s inbox.
Virtual Servers
A virtual server works much like a physical server. However, the information stored is usually sitting in a cloud or a physical data centre. One of the benefits of using a virtual server is that it won’t take up office space.
Physical Servers
Rack, tower, and blade servers are the three main physical servers. The following is a brief description of each server type, including how they operate and what makes them distinct:
Rack Servers
These are great if you’re looking for a general-purpose server that’s easy to stack. In addition to providing computing power for your organisation, these rack-mountable and rectangular computers may also assist your network.
Servers that are installed inside a rack are called rack servers. Because they can support a wide range of computing architecture and applications, they are among the most reliable server solutions on the market today.
What are the advantages of using rack servers over traditional servers?
As a networked or hold system, each rack server is equipped with everything it needs to operate as a self-contained unit. Because these are self-contained computers with their memory, CPU, and power supply, they are ideal for doing computationally-heavy tasks.
The Server Tower
Small enterprises and individuals most often opt for tower servers. Their chassis is entirely independent and extremely light. Similarly, they are simple and contain only the bare minimum of components to facilitate customisation and specialised task completion. They can be used as a small office server because of this.
With a normal tower server, you won’t receive a lot of RAM or graphics cards, but you can always upgrade them later. That means that if you are using your tower servers for development purposes first, then upgrade them to function as communication, web, or network servers.
Since they don’t share input devices, each will need its own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. In addition, they are not stacked in a metal frame like rack servers. These servers necessitate opening each of their enclosures, which takes up valuable space in your office.
What are tower servers’ advantages?
There are advantages to using tower servers, including scalability and reduced cooling expenses. When you acquire tower servers, you can upgrade them in the future. As a result, they’re more affordable than a similarly configured server. In the long term, tower servers save money since rack servers are more expensive to cool because of their density.
Blade Server
Blades are the collective name for the individual circuit boards housed within these unusual structures. Because they don’t require memory, CPUs, or network controllers, they’re frequently cited as the ideal server for small businesses. Racks may accommodate blade servers as well.
Multiple modular circuit boards are housed in enclosures called “blade servers.” As a server blade, each one of these circuit boards has just one or two of the following: memory, CPU, and network controllers.
All other components, such as switches and ports, are shared among the chassis’s switches and ports. As a general rule, they can be stored similarly to rack servers.
What are Blade server advantages?
Despite their high computing power, these systems are small and light. In contrast to rack and tower servers, which can quickly fill up the space in your data centre, this server does not require as much space as other types. In addition, the chassis can power many blade servers, allowing you to save money on electricity.
It means that in terms of space and energy usage, blade servers are more efficient than alternative options.
A Server’s Contribution to the Success of a Small Business
Small businesses cannot function without servers. You can get by for a while with one or two PCs, but it is difficult to scale without a server.
When you expand your workforce or relocate to a new location, you’ll need a solution to keep your data safe and secure. Using email or a USB device to send large files raises your security risk and the time it takes to complete the transfer. With a server, you’ll be able to store and distribute files with ease. Additionally, they can host your email, online store, SaaS application, and other software. Finally, they keep you connected to the files you need to run your business in a secure environment like a data centre.
Backing up data on servers is another critical function for small enterprises. To protect yourself from losing important information in the event of a hardware breakdown, you should save your data in the cloud.
Print Servers
By now, you’ll most likely be able to guess what a print server is. It’s what connects your computer or network to a printer. It is what stores the information in your printer’s queue.
Security
A company’s security is one of the most important reasons to invest in a rack-mounted server or comparable solution. This is because they contain built-in security measures, such as firewalls that prevent unwanted access to your information.
You can also install your security measures because you manage the server in your actual location. So you don’t have to be concerned about other organisations sharing your cloud platform space, for example, because you may decide which staff will have administrative access.
Additionally, even if your internet connection goes down, you can still use your servers and access crucial files.
Experience software development
If you’re new to software development, don’t be daunted by what you don’t yet fully understand. These things will come to you, and some of it is just good to know. If you want to learn some of the basics of software development, then try Code Institute’s free 5 Day Coding Challenge. With this short course, you can learn the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. After five days, you’ll have built your first web page. Register now through the form below.
Try our Free 5 Day Coding Challenge 
Take our full stack course 
