A server question

[Ifty]

Probably its a too easy question for you all.

I know that a server is nothing but a powerful computer. But I am confused when a particular computer becomes a server. For example, when can I call my computer a server ?

[quantum]

Hi Ifty,

Don't worry about easy question. No question is easy if you do not know the answer. On the other hand once you know it everything is easy.

Anyway,

Server is not only a powerful computer. It does not even necessarily have to be powerful. Server is a term used for any of the following: a computer on a network that sends files to, or runs applications for, other computers on the network; the software that runs on the server computer and performs the work of serving files or running applications; or, in object-oriented programming, a piece of code that exchanges information with another piece of code upon request.

See, mostly what defines server is its capability to serve other computers via netwroks. Lan or Wan. Now because it has to do a lot of work in this scenerio, it is preferable to have a powerful computer to use as a server. A server typically has greater CPU power, number of CPUs, memory, cache, disk storage, and power supplies than a computer that is used as a single-user workstation. But the main points are the right software or operating system that it must have and a network based environment it should be in. The term, server can refer to a particular piece of software, such as a WWW server such as apache, or to the machine on which the software is running, e.g. Our mail server is down today, that's why e-mail isn't getting out. A single server machine could have several different server software packages running on it, thus providing many different servers to clients on the network.

Microsoft windows 2000 server is an example of server operating system.

What operating system you use?
As a user you most probably use windows xp home or windows xp professional. That is a normal operating system. If you install windows 2000 server your same computer will turn into a server. Although, if it is not part of a network, it will have no computer to serve to.


DK, probably has much more to say on it.
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[dinangkur]

I don't have much to say about it. Quantum already defined it nicely. You just need to remember that- the word "server" came from serve. Now, any electrical device is resposible to serve other electronic device(less power full) or controling it, is call server.

-DK.
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[Ifty]

Thanks for the clarification (and your assurance about asking easy questions ).

[quantum]

You are most welcome Ifty.
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Dust fills my eyes / Clouds roll by / and I roll with them / Centuries cry / Orders fly / and I fall again
Afford best design, implement best solution. Outsource your web design.