Server and its Types

A server is a computer or system that provides data, resources, services, or programs to other computers, known as clients, over a network.

Note: Client Request to server and server provides requested services as shown in the following figure.

Server and its Types

Services of Servers

Server computers are more powerful than other computers in the network.  Different services provided by the server are

  • Control access to hardware, software, and data
  • Centralized storage for software, data, and information
  • Processing data
  • Sharing software
  • Managing network traffic

In a small network, there may be only one server that manages all tasks like printing, application, database, email, web, etc.

In a large network, there may be different dedicated servers for every different task. i.e., Print server, Application server, database server, email server, web server, etc.

Types Of Dedicated Servers

There are various types of dedicated servers, as shown in the following diagram 

types of Servers

1. Print Server

The print server manages all printing jobs requested by client computers it in the network. The print server handles the printing requests according to the order as they are received.

2. Application Server

It stores and distributes all application software on each system in the network. The user installs and upgrades all the software once on the application server rather than installing all the programs on each computer in the network.

3. Database server

It manages the database of an organization and is called a database server. It is responsible for retrieving, editing, deleting, and updating the data.

4. Email Server

The email server handles a large number of incoming, outgoing, and internal emails. It remains connected to the internet and may be located anywhere in the world.

5. Communication Server

The communication server handles the communication between the network and other networks. It also manages internet connectivity. It secures the network from hackers.

A web server, email servers, and other servers need to communicate with the internet. So, these servers communicate with the internet through the communication server.

6. Web server

It hosts all available websites through the internet.

7. Authentication server

It keeps track of all users who are logged on to the network. It provides different restrictions for different users in the network.

8. File Server

It stores and manages the files for all users in the network. i.e., employees of an organization store their records on a file server.