A computer system in a network that is shared by multiple users. Servers come in all sizes from x86-based PCs to IBM mainframes. A server may have a keyboard, monitor and mouse directly attached, or one keyboard, monitor and mouse may connect to any number of servers via a switch (see KVM switch). In large companies, servers often reside in racks in the datacenter, and all access is via their network connections. See server farm and rack mounted.
Any User Machine Can Be a Server
Stand-alone PCs and Macs can also function as a server to other users on the network even though they serve as a single workstation to one user (see peer-to-peer). In such cases, only specific folders are marked for sharing rather than the entire hard drive.
It Can Also Be Software
The term "server" may refer to both the hardware and software (the entire computer system) or just the software that performs the service. For example, Web server may refer to the Web server software in a computer that also runs other applications, or, it may refer to a computer system dedicated only to the Web server application. For example, a large Web site could have several dedicated Web servers or one very large Web server.
Servers are classified by their purpose, and the following servers are defined in this encyclopedia.
Any User Machine Can Be a Server
Stand-alone PCs and Macs can also function as a server to other users on the network even though they serve as a single workstation to one user (see peer-to-peer). In such cases, only specific folders are marked for sharing rather than the entire hard drive.
It Can Also Be Software
The term "server" may refer to both the hardware and software (the entire computer system) or just the software that performs the service. For example, Web server may refer to the Web server software in a computer that also runs other applications, or, it may refer to a computer system dedicated only to the Web server application. For example, a large Web site could have several dedicated Web servers or one very large Web server.
Servers are classified by their purpose, and the following servers are defined in this encyclopedia.
application server
audio server
database server
fax server
file server
intranet server
mail server
merchant server
modem server
network access server
print server
proxy server
remote access server
telephony server
terminal server
video server
Web server
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- OpenLink Lite Edition ODBC Driver for SQL Server (TDS) 6.02.3280 (Mac)
- High-Performance ODBC Drivers provide transparent access to remote databases from any ODBC-compliant application. Desktop Productivity Tools (i.e., Spreadsheets, Word Processors, Presentation Packages, Desktop Databases, Personal Organizers, etc.), Client-Server Application Development Environments, Web-based Database Publishing Tools, and Computer Telephony Integration packages, are just a few of the many products that can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- 123 Flash Chat Server 7.4 (Windows)
- 123 Flash Chat Server Software can add a chat room to your website in minutes and turn visitors to loyal members. 123 Flash Chat Server Software allows you to organize chat events for social network or dating sites with a admin panel. It has text chat and video chat options....
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- iPhone Chat Server (123FlashChat) 7.5 (Windows)
- iPhone Chat Server Software by 123FlashChat can add a chat room to your Web site in minutes. It organizes chat events or online meetings for social network or portals. Technology utilized: Java chat server and various chat client. It is secure, easy and affordable. It has text and video chat...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- TurboFTP Server 1.00.705 (Windows)
- TurboFTP Server supports virtual domains, which means you can set up multiple virtual domains on a physical host machine and provide different services on it. You can map any local folder path to a virtual server folder and assign individual users or groups access rights to folders within a domain's...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- EA Domainkeys/DKIM for IIS SMTP Service and Exchange Server 2.1 (Windows)
- With this tool, your IIS SMTP Service and Exchange Server will be enabled to add DomainKeys/DKIM signature to outgoing emails from specified domains, which verify the DNS domain of an email sender and the message integrity, and in turn preventing the emails from your domain from being flagged as spam...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- ProjectTrack SQL Server Edition 2007.9.0 (Windows)
- Planning is the beginning. ProjectTrack SQL Server Edition is an all-inclusive program that will help you execute your plan. Designed by and for project managers, ProjectTrack is a powerfully integrated management tool which keeps ALL information related to a project in one place. Keep track of Tasks, Action Items, Change...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Exchange Server Toolbox 3.1.1 (Windows)
- Exchange Server Toolbox is a plugin for the Microsoft Exchange Server 2000/2003/2007. With Exchange Server Toolbox, you can handle all mails arriving via the SMTP of the Exchange server using technologies already well-established in SmartPOP2Exchange. Filter spam reliably with the proven and tested SpamAssassin, use your favourite virus scanner for...
- Software downloads 2009-11-04
- Power Solutions Article:Â Power Solutions Article: Getting Started with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V on Dell Servers
- Microsoft® Hyper-V™ technology provides a simplified virtualization platform integrated directly into the Microsoft Windows Server® 2008 OS. This article provides an introduction to Hyper-V virtualization, discusses the overall architecture and underlying technologies, and offers guidance on best practices for deployment on Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers.
- White papers 2009-11-04
- Power Solutions Article: High-Availability Virtualization with Dell EqualLogic Arrays and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V
- The Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 Release 2 (R2) Hyper-V™ platform introduces capabilities designed to deliver high availability for virtualized data centers. Integrating a Dell™ EqualLogic™ PS Series storage area network into Hyper-V virtualized environments helps organizations capitalize on new Hyper-V capabilities, including live migration, hot-add storage, and storage platform features...
- White papers 2009-11-04
- Microsoft to raise prices, add more high-end editions with SQL Server 2008 R2
- More likely to ship with Visual Studio 2010?Is it not more likley that SQL 2008 R2 will ship with Visual Studio 2010 as it has done with previous releases? I understand VS2010 is likely to be available in March (Mix 2010?). In this way, SQL is likely to be...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-03
- Microsoft to raise prices, add more high-end editions with SQL Server 2008 R2
- With the new version of its database due out by mid-2010, Microsoft is increasing its retail prices. It also is adding two new high-end editions of SQL Server 2008 R2 to its line-up. Other news from the opening day of Microsoft's SQL PASS conference: Microsoft is planning to make the...
- Blog posts 2009-11-03
- Yahoo does right by Traffic Server
- Traffic Server is designed to optimize Web sites by caching popular content at the network edge, closer to users. It's not something Google needs -- they have their own solution -- but it could be very useful for relatively new, fast-growing sites. by Dana Blankenhorn
- Blog posts 2009-11-03
- Live Webcast: Enhanced Availability in a Virtual Data Center with the Dell PS Series and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V
- Microsoft® Windows® Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V™ introduces new capabilities designed to deliver high availability for virtualized environments. To capitalize on these capabilities, organizations must design an infrastructure that includes a robust, reliable shared-storage solution with built-in redundancy and tight integration of virtualization management capabilities. Join this live...
- Webcasts 2009-11-03
- Internet Server Monitor 10.0.13 (Windows)
- Internet Server Monitor is a network monitoring tool enabling Systems Administrators to monitor network servers, services, and applications for failures as well as recoveries enabling issue identification and resolution before users report them. Internet Server Monitor handshakes with network resources and calls specific functions enabling Internet Server Monitor to determine...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- Open Search Server 1.1.1r652 (Mac)
- Open Search Server OSS is a search engine software developed under the GPL v3 open source licence. Built using the best open source technologies available, Open Search Server is a stable, high-performance piece of software. It is both a modern search engine and a suite of high-powered full text search...
- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Home Ftp Server 1.10.0.137 (Windows)
- Home Ftp Server is an easy to use FTP server that allows you to share files directly from your PC with lots of setup possibilities. You can set up user accounts, specify directory permissions and monitor access to individual files. It supports implicit/explicit TLS, virtual directories, banned IP addresses and...
- Software downloads 2009-11-01
- Joyfax Server 4.63 build 1025 (Windows)
- JoyFax Server is a client/server-base fax software that allows you to send and receive faxes in a network environment by using a public phone line. Our easy-to-use Fax software also can offers the ability to manage your group faxing and the fax contact lists. The Fax server receives incoming faxes,...
- Software downloads 2009-10-31
- Intel seeks new 'microserver' standard
- Why bother with a new standard?What Intel needs to do is use the pre-existing motherboard form factors like Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. Why can't they just design a board in the Mini-ITX form factor for a single-socket Xeon 3400-series processor with ECC RAM and dual-GBe ports with the standard fare...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-30
- Ability FTP Server 1.20 (Windows)
- FTP Server features 128-bit SSL, Remote Admin, security protection options, disk quota limits, bandwidth restrictions, IP restrictions, virtual folders, resume support, real-time activity viewer, and real-time control. The Remote Admin facility is designed for ultimate flexibility and so is accessible via a Web browser. This allows secure control over the...
- Software downloads 2009-10-30
- FoxTrot Professional Search 2.5.1 (Mac)
- FoxTrot Professional Search is a powerful find-by-content solution that offers precision tools for finding the proverbial "needle in a haystack" directly within PDF, HTML, word processing, e-mail and rich-media content and metadata. The product has been especially well received in legal law firm and courts, media (newsrooms researchers, ad agencies...
- Software downloads 2009-10-30
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
-
-
Smart Tech
Expert advice on innovations in healthcare and the green technologies that make it happen.
Find out more
-
Smart Business
Discussion and advice on management issues that revolve around making your world smarter and more useful.
More Smart Advice
-
Smart People
The best and worst moves in the management and strategy trenches.
Learn More
