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What are servers? This is an animated video explaining the difference between servers and desktop computers.
- What Is a Server and What Do Servers Do?
Servers are high-powered computers built to store, process, and manage network data, devices, and systems. - Server
A server is a software or hardware device that accepts and responds to requests made over a network.
A computer network diagram of client computers communicating with a server computer via the Internet.
(Creative Commons image: Wikimedia)
Desktop computers vs. servers
There are both similarities and differences between desktop computers and servers. Most servers are based on X86/X64 CPUs and can run the same code as an X86/X64 desktop computer. Unlike most desktop computers, however, physical servers often include multiple CPU sockets and error correcting memory. Servers also generally support a far greater quantity of memory than most desktop computers.
Because server hardware typically runs mission-critical workloads, server hardware manufacturers design servers to support redundant components. A server might be equipped with redundant power supplies and redundant network interfaces. These redundant components allow a server to continue to function even if a key component fails.
Server hardware also differs from desktop hardware in terms of its form factor. Modern desktop computers often exist as mini towers, designed to be placed under a desk. Although there are still some vendors that offer tower servers, most servers are designed to be rack mounted. These rack mount systems are described as having a 1U, 2U or 4U form factor, depending on how much rack space they occupy -- a 2U server takes up twice as much rack space as a 1U server.
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Another key difference between a desktop computer and a server is the operating system. A desktop operating system might be able to perform some server-like functionality but isn't designed or licensed to take the place of a server operating system. Windows 10, for example, is a desktop operating system.
Some Windows 10 editions include Hyper-V, Microsoft's virtual machine platform. Even though both Windows 10 and Windows Server can run Hyper-V, Windows 10's hypervisor is intended to be primarily used for development purposes, whereas the version of Hyper-V included with Windows Server is designed for running production virtual servers.
Although an organisation could conceivably run a virtual server on top of Windows 10 Hyper-V, there are licensing issues to consider. Additionally, Windows Server Hyper-V includes resiliency features that aren't found in the Windows 10 version. For example, Windows Server supports failover clustering and virtual machine replication.
Similarly, the Windows 10 operating system can make files available to devices on a local network. However, Windows 10 was never designed for large-scale file sharing. Windows Server, however, can be configured to act as a fully featured file server. In large organizations, a distributed file system can be created across an entire server farm for the purpose of providing better performance, scalability and resiliency than what one physical server would be able to provide by itself.
Types of servers
Servers are often categorized in terms of their purpose. A few examples of the types of servers available are as follows:
- Web server: a computer program that serves requested HTML pages or files. In this case, a web browser acts as the client.
- Application server: a program in a computer in a distributed network that provides the business logic for an application program.
- Proxy server: software that acts as an intermediary between an endpoint device, such as a computer, and another server from which a user or client is requesting a service.
- Mail server: an application that receives incoming emails from local users -- people within the same domain -- and remote senders and forwards outgoing emails for delivery.
- Virtual server: a program running on a shared server that is configured in such a way that it seems to each user that they have complete control of a server.
- Blade server: a server chassis housing multiple thin, modular electronic circuit boards, known as server blades. Each blade is a server in its own right, often dedicated to a single application
- File server: a computer responsible for the central storage and management of data files so that other computers on the same network can access them.
- Policy server: a security component of a policy-based network that provides authorization services and facilitates tracking and control of files.
- Database server: this server is responsible for hosting one or more databases. Client applications perform database queries that retrieve data from or write data to the database that is hosted on the server.
- Print server: this server provides users with access to one or more network-attached printers -- or print devices as some server vendors call them. The print server acts as a queue for the print jobs that users submit. Some print servers can prioritize the jobs in the print queue based on the job type or on who submitted the print job.
Source: Posey, B. (2021, June 3). What is a server? WhatIs.com. https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/server
- What is a router?A router is a device that connects two or more packet-switched networks or subnetworks.
- What Is a Router and How Does It Work?Explains what a router is and what it does.
A video is included giving a good explanation of a router.
The presenter explains what router is and what it does using images and diagrams.
Source: Creative Commons - Wikimedia
- What Does a Modem Do?A modem is a device that receives an analog signal from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then converts it into a digital signal your devices can understand and vice versa.
What is a Modem?
Nowadays, we don’t just use the Internet, we rely on it. When the connection is slow—or worse, nonexistent—your whole day could be ruined. But have you ever stopped to think about how that connection works? From Wi-Fi router to mobile devices, the components that make up your home network all speak different digital languages, but your modem is the translator. It takes the signals that come from your Internet Service Provider, or ISP, and translates them into an Internet connection for your Wi-Fi router to broadcast. On a basic level, your modem gives you access to the Web, but it can also make a huge difference in the efficiency of your home Wi-Fi.
How a Modem Works
The modem receives information from your ISP through the phone lines, optical fiber, or coaxial cable in your home (depending on your service provider) and converts it into a digital signal. The router’s job is to push this signal out to connected devices, either through wired Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi, so that all of your devices can hop on board and access the Internet. Your router and ISP can’t communicate directly because they speak different languages—or rather, they transmit different signal types—which is why the modem’s role as a translator is so important.
Source: What is a modem? (2022). Linksys. https://www.linksys.com/us/r/resource-center/what-is-a-modem/
- What is an Access Point and How is it Different from a Range Extender?An access point is a device that creates a wireless local area network, or WLAN, usually in an office or large building.
- What is a wireless access point?An access point receives data by wired Ethernet, and converts to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz wireless signal.
- What is a wireless access point?
Wireless access points (APs or WAPs) are networking devices that allow Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network. They form wireless local-area networks (WLANs).
A good explanation on the difference between a Wireless Access Point and a Wi-fi Router.