Introduction to Server

What is Server???

A server is any combination of hardware or software designed to provide services to clients.

A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. For example, a file server is
a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network can store files
on the server. A print server is a computer that manages one or more printers, and a network
server is a computer that manages network traffic. A database server is a computer system that
processes database queries.

Servers are often dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks.
On multiprocessing operating systems, however, a single computer can execute several programs
at once. A server in this case could refer to the program that is managing resources rather than
the entire computer

This is really simple. A server is a computer with a huge connection using a program especially
made for Undernet servers called ircu2. This software is made to hold all the servers together,
protect the channels against Server Ops, and handles all text we write (forwards it to all other
servers). It also contains a lot of data that we do not need to go over here

Server in daily life

Any computer or device serving out applications or services can technically be called a server. In
an office or enterprise environment, the network server is easy to identify. A DSL/Cable modem
router qualifies as a server because it provides a computer with application services like IP
address assignment (via DHCP) and NAT, which is the firewall that helps protect a computer
from external threats. iTunes software implements a music server to stream music between
computers. Many home users create shared folders and printers. Another example are the many
servers for such hosting online games such as Everquest, World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike and
EVE-Online

Type of server

Server Purpose
Server platform A term often used synonymously with operating system, a platform is
the underlying hardware or software for a system and is thus the engine
that drives the server.
Application server Sometimes referred to as a type of middleware, application servers
occupy a large chunk of computing territory between database servers
and the end user, and they often connect the two.
Audio/video server Audio/Video servers bring multimedia capabilities to Web sites by
enabling them to broadcast streaming multimedia content.
Chat server Chat servers enable a large number of users to exchange information in
an environment similar to Internet newsgroups that offer real-time
discussion capabilities.
Fax Server A fax server is an ideal solution for organizations looking to reduce
incoming and outgoing telephone resources but that need to fax actual
documents
FTP server One of the oldest of the Internet services, File Transfer Protocol makes
it possible to move one or more files securely between computers while
providing file security and organization as well as transfer control.
Groupware Server A groupware server is software designed to enable users to collaborate,
regardless of location, via the Internet or a corporate intranet and to
work together in a virtual atmosphere
IRC server An option for those seeking real-time discussion capabilities, Internet
Relay Chat consists of various separate networks (or "nets") of servers
that allow users to connect to each other via an IRC network.
List Server List servers offer a way to better manage mailing lists, whether they be
interactive discussions open to the public or one-way lists that deliver
announcements, newsletters, or advertising.
Mail Server Almost as ubiquitous and crucial as Web servers, mail servers move and
store mail over corporate networks (via LANs and WANs) and across
the Internet
News Server News servers act as a distribution and delivery source for the thousands
of public news groups currently accessible over the USENET news
network.
Proxy Server Proxy servers sit between a client program (typically a Web browser)
and an external server (typically another server on the Web) to filter
requests, improve performance, and share connections
Telnet server A Telnet server enables users to log on to a host computer and perform
tasks as if they're working on the remote computer itself.
Web Server At its core, a Web server serves static content to a Web browser by
loading a file from a disk and serving it across the network to a user's
Web browser. This entire exchange is mediated by the browser and
server talking to each other using HTTP. Also read Server Watch's Web
Server Basics article
Database Server a computer program that provides database services to other computer
programs or computers, as defined by the client-server model. The term
may also refer to a computer dedicated to running such a program.
Database management systems frequently provide database server
functionality, and some DBMSs (e.g., MySQL) rely exclusively on the
client-server model for database access.
Network a complete, end-to-end Network & IT infrastructure monitoring
Management Server platform that offers advanced fault and performance management across
WAN, VoIP services, network devices, servers, applications, databases
and other IT infrastructure such as printers, UPS etc..
Client/server architecture

A network architecture in which each computer or process on the network is either a client or a
server. Servers are powerful computers or processes dedicated to managing disk drives (file
servers), printers(print servers), or network traffic (network server ). Clients are PCs or
workstations on which users run applications. Clients rely on servers for resources, such as files,
devices, and even processing power.

Client-server architectures are sometimes called two-tier architecture and now the servers also
have the three tier architecture.

Two Tier

Refers to client/server architectures in which the user interface runs on the client and the
database is stored on the server. The actual application logic can run on either the client or the
server.

Three tier

A newer client/server architecture, called a three-tier architecture introduces a middle tier for the
application logic

A special type of client/server architecture consisting of three well-defined and separate

1. The user interface, which runs on the user's computer (the client).

2. The functional modules that actually process data. This middle tier runs on a server and is
often called the application server.

3. A database management system (DBMS) that stores the data required by the middle tier. This
tier runs on a second server called the database server.

The three-tier design has many advantages over traditional two-tier or single-tier designs, the
chief ones being:

 The added modularity makes it easier to modify or replace one tier without
affecting the other tiers.
 Separating the application functions from the database functions makes it easier
to implement load balancing
What Server Can do???

All servers are online 24 / 7 if they are not worked on. They 'talk' to each other continuously to
check if the connection is still there. Now we come to a paradox. When a netsplit ocurrs 'we' say
the Server or hub got overloaded and it split away to protect itself. Wrong. The servers can never
get overloaded. They can be flooded. They can be nuked. They can split away for numerous
other reasons, but they can NOT get overloaded. When a server is full, they won't let you
connect. That's it. They don't split away for too much data, they split away because they don't
have time to talk to each other.

Server Roles and Features

Example of server

Window Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 is built from the same code base as Windows Vista; therefore, it shares
much of the same architecture and functionality. Since the code base is common, it automatically
comes with most of the technical, security, management and administrative features new to
Windows Vista such as the rewritten networking stack (native IPv6, native wireless, speed and
security improvements); improved image-based installation, deployment and recovery; improved
diagnostics, monitoring, event logging and reporting tools; new security features such as
BitLocker and ASLR; improved Windows Firewall with secure default configuration; .NET
Framework 3.0 technologies, specifically Windows Communication Foundation, Microsoft
Message Queuing and Windows Workflow Foundation; and the core kernel, memory and file
system improvements. Processors and memory devices are modelled as Plug and Play devices, to
allow hot-plugging of these devices. This allows the system resources to be partitioned
dynamically using Dynamic Hardware Partitioning; each partition has its own memory,
processor and I/O host bridge devices independent of other partitions.[5]

Server Core

Server Core is a new Windows installation option introduced in Windows Server 2008.
Server Core is a bare-bones installation option for computers running the Windows Server 2008
operating system. The installation results in a server environment that is easy to manage and
maintain but offers less functionality than more complex options.

Server Core can be configured for five well-known server roles: file server, DHCP Server, DNS
server, Media Services, and Active Directory.

Server Core is designed to provide an environment that reduces:

 Servicing requirements
 Management requirements
 Attack surface
 Disk space usage

Purpose

Server Core is a minimal server installation option for computers running on the Windows
Server 2008 R2 operating system. Server Core provides a low-maintenance server environment
with limited functionality.

Where Applicable

Server Core is an installation option that is capable of some well-known server roles.

The minimal nature of Server Core creates limitations:

 There is no Windows shell and very limited GUI functionality (the Server Core interface
is a command prompt).
 There is limited managed code support in Server Core.
 There is limited MSI support (unattended mode only).
 Server Core lacks a Windows shell. There is a command prompt interface and very
limited graphical user interface (GUI) functionality