A server computer is a device or software that runs services to meet the needs of other computers, known as clients. Depending on the situation, a server program may operate on either a physical computer or a virtual machine. However, the actual computer on which the software is installed in a data center is frequently called a server. It’s possible that the computer is a dedicated server or being utilized for multiple purposes at once.

In the client/server programming architecture, a server program accepts and responds to inquiries from client applications running on the same or other computers. One program may serve as a client requesting services from other programs. Another program may function as a server receiving requests.

What is a server computer?

A server computer is a high-performance computer designed to handle, store, and manage network data, devices, and systems. Servers are the engines that drive businesses by supplying network devices and systems with adequate resources. Servers are essential for organizations since they provide scalability, efficiency, and business continuity capabilities. Servers can perform the same tasks that a standard desktop PC is capable of with some extras. On the other hand, desktop computers can execute server processes but at a far lower performance level.

How do servers work?

The term “server” can apply to a physical machine, a virtual machine, or software executing server functions. The way a server computer works varies considerably depending on the context of the server.

A physical server is a computer that runs server software. A virtual server is a virtual replica of a physical server computer. Virtual servers have their operating system and applications, just like physical servers. These are prevented from interfering with any other virtual servers running on the physical server.

A lightweight software component called a hypervisor is installed on a physical server to create virtual machines. The hypervisor’s purpose is to allow the physical server to function as a virtualization host. The virtualization host makes the physical server’s physical hardware resources available to virtual machines.

Servers are the engines that drive businesses by supplying network devices and systems with adequate resources

A server computer requires two software components: An operating system and an application. The server software is deployed on the operating system to access the underlying hardware resources and provide the application’s dependency services. The operating system also allows users to interact with the server program. For example, the operating system assigns the server’s IP address and fully qualified domain name.

Servers are housed in specialized areas or structures. Big companies maintain their server rooms solely to ensure the safety of their devices—advanced air conditioning units with backup generators and even sometimes their own electrical substations to keep servers cool. Because they house such significant amounts of valuable information, server rooms and structures are frequently secure areas with restricted access.

What is the difference between desktop computers and servers?

The distinctions and similarities between desktop and server computers are numerous. Most servers use X86/X64 CPUs, which can execute the same code as a standard desktop computer. On the other hand, unlike most desktop computers, physical servers generally include several CPU sockets and error-correcting memory. The number of RAM slots on a server is typically far greater than on most desktop PCs.

Server hardware frequently runs mission-critical applications; therefore, manufacturers build servers with redundant components in mind. A server computer may be equipped with multiple power sources and redundant network connections. Redundant components allow a server to continue to operate even if a critical component goes down.

Redundant components allow a server to continue to operate even if a critical hardware goes down

Server hardware also differs from desktop PCs in terms of its form factor. A server’s hardware is typically built to fit in a rack, while a desktop PC’s hardware is designed to fit on a desk. The majority of servers are designed to be rack-mounted, even though a few suppliers still provide tower-type hardware. Rackmount systems are classified as 1U, 2U, or 4U in terms of how much rack space they take up, with a 2U server taking up twice the rack space of a 1U server.

The operating system is another key distinction between a desktop PC and a server. A desktop operating system may, for example, do some server-type tasks but is not intended or licensed to operate in the place of a server operating system.

What are the different types of servers?

Servers are often categorized according to their intended use. The following are the most common server types:

• Web server: A web server is software that delivers HTML pages or files to clients. Web browsers serve as clients for web servers. All web pages are provided by web servers.
• Mail server: An email server is a program that receives incoming emails from local users and remote senders, as well as forwards outgoing emails for delivery.
• Application server: An application server is a computer program that runs on a server in a distributed network and handles the business logic for an application.
• Virtual server: A virtual server is a program running on a shared server that has been set to appear to each user as if they have complete control of their private server.
• Game server: Almost all games utilize servers to transmit and receive information to and from their clients for them to play the most popular online computer games and the tiniest smartphone games.
• Proxy server: Proxy servers, also known as gateways, are intermediary software that connects one endpoint device, such as a computer, to another server from which a user or client is requesting a service.
• File server: Every time data is saved and transmitted, a server is called into play. The file server is a computer in charge of the central storage and data management so that other computers on the same network can access them.
• Print server: Print servers allow users to connect to one or more network-attached printers. Users send print jobs to the printer server, which serves as a queue for those tasks.
• Database server: A database server is in charge of hosting databases. Database queries are performed by client applications to access data from or store new data in a server’s database.