Jump to content

regarding servers


wa4chq

Recommended Posts

I'm having a hard time understanding servers. From what I read, a server is a computer that serves information to other computers. What I don't understand is the reason for having a web server or music server or a mail server when wouldn't having just one device called a "server" be able to do your multi-media and web, mail etc.... :'( :hmm:

 

signed,

confused.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

securitybreach

Well most of the time one server can provide lots of services (mail, media, music etc.) but when you get a lot of users, you need more hardware and network connections.

 

Remember each connection and user uses some system resources so too many users and services can bring a server down.

 

On top of that, nowadays most servers are just virtual machines or docker containers anyway running on blade at a data center. A lot of websites use Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide cloud computing, servers, etc. which are virtual servers hosted on Amazon's servers.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey SB...thanks for the reply. I've been messing around with my raspberry pi and reading about how they can be used for an access point, a router, a music server, a mail server, a web server.... So for a home server, you could run just one to do multiple tasks but if it were an office building with 50 people then like you said, the server could crash.

Still learning!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

V.T. Eric Layton

A server is nothing more than another computer that serves. Usually, though, a server is a massive storage system, often housed in a huge climate controlled building made up of 10s of 1000s of hard drives, mucho RAM, extensive routing capabilities, etc.

 

What is a server?

 

A server farm...

 

article-2219188-158CE597000005DC-890_1024x615_large.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok....it's starting to make sense. I hope one day to have 10's of 1000's of hard drives....but for now I think I'd settle for the climate controlled room.

Edited by wa4chq
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Servers also refer to the software that does the serving. That's why a general-purpose desktop computer running IIS or Apache is also a web server. As Eric pointed out, any computer device that offers some service is a server. Anyone that asks for something from the server is the client.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice to be back. Been pretty busy at work these days and then I go home and read and stay away from forums.😋 Anyway, I have more free time now so I'll try and pop in here a bit more.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

V.T. Eric Layton
21 minutes ago, Peachy said:

I have more free time now so I'll try and pop in here a bit more.

 

COOL! I'd sure be happy to see more of you. Heck, this past three or four days I've spent more time on this board than I have in the last two months. New board software is keeping me busy. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...