Tip #2382 - What is a Server?
Printer Friendly Version | E-Mail This Tip
Q:
Everyone's always talking about servers. What is a server and what does
it mean to me?
A:
A server
is basically a service that allows clients (that is you) to be able to
use programs within your computer. Servers are run through specialized
computers, which are, ironically, also called servers. In other words,
a server serves the information needed to a computer that it is connected
with, so you can access your programs, files, etc.
There
are different types of servers that you may have running through your
system. One is a print server. This server works with the computer that
the printer is connected to, so when you go to print something, it is
all able to work. Another server is a Web server, which you may have heard
more about than others. These are needed so we're able to visit Web sites
each day. When we type in a URL, that Web site has to send a request to
the Web server so we can then view and browse through it. That's also
an example of how fast these things work for us.
Two more main types
of servers are a file server and an e-mail server. The file server is
pretty self explanatory, but it works to store the files we save and then
deliver them to us when we need them. The e-mail server is what allows
us to send e-mail. It sends and receives the e-mails that we write and
get back every day.
Servers are very dependable
and we can count on them to get us what we need while we're going through
our daily computing. You may have several servers running through your
system helping you get your work done, so we definitely have to be thankful
for servers!
~ Erin
Want To Comment On This Tip? Click Here! We'd love to hear from you :-)
Like These Tips? Get 'Em Free In Your E-mail
