Server

What Is a Server?

A server is a specialized computer or system designed for faster processing, handling greater workloads, and typically comes at a higher cost compared to a standard PC. It has high-speed CPU computing power, long reliable operation, powerful data throughput, and excellent scalability.

The main responsibility of a server is to provide resources, computation, or various application services to other computers - Clients (such as PCs, cell phones, ATMs, and even large devices such as train systems) in a network. Generally speaking, servers can respond to service requests, assume services, and secure services.

A server, like a standard computer, has core components such as a processor, RAM, hard disk, and operating system, but these components are typically more powerful to manage complex server tasks.

Features of a Server

Servers exhibit five key features, often referred to as the RASUM measures:

Reliability

The reliability of a server is its most important feature. Since servers deal with users across the network, enterprises need them to work without interruption until they are completely obsolete.

Availability

Servers offer high availability and can handle numerous workloads, easing the burden on individual devices, reducing maintenance costs, and facilitating collaboration and resource access within a network.

Scalability

Servers require scalability to adapt to changing network demands and user growth, thus organizations often select servers with scalability and redundant pieces to avoid escalating costs.

Usability

The complexity of a server's functions requires both hardware capability and extensive software configuration. However, excessive software can degrade performance and complicate management, so usability is a critical factor for servers.

Manageability

Servers not only need to be stable but also require error-avoidance features for efficient maintenance. Providers often equip them with intelligent management systems, automatic alerts, and other security measures to enhance manageability.

Common Server Types

・Web Servers: Running websites and programs through browsers and delivering web pages to clients.

・Email Servers: Send and receive emails using different protocols for convenient storage and management.

・File Servers: Managing and storing files in network workstations.

・Database Servers: Provide database services to facilitate users to search, store or modify data through the client.

・Proxy Servers: An intermediary between the client network and the global network, responsible for forwarding network info on behalf of the user.

・Application Servers: Servers running specific applications or services.

・Gaming Servers: Manage and synchronize the game data of global players and support multiplayer games.

・DNS Servers: Change user-understandable URLs into computer-understandable language, i.e., IP addresses.