Server 101: What is a server

Tech workers spend most of their time either in server rooms or near them. However, not all of them know the ins and outs of server rooms. In this series server rooms will be discussed here. So, this topic will start with the most obvious question.

Group of server cabinets
Courtesy of ipzonecomputer

What is Server?

Many people think that servers are large, loud, expensive and hard to use machines. However, they thoughts are not true.  The definition of server is any device that provide any type of services to other machines on the same network and other network, because the term server is assigned to machines based on its relation to a certain service.

As a result, we see different types of “Computers” act as a server. We started to see microcomputers such as Raspberry Pis, and atom based computers act as server for clients who are waaay more powerful, more expensive and more difficult to use computers.

Servers serve different types of services. These services varies from serving a group of files to a different to managing user authentication and logging, to managing prints over a network. According to the service provided, system administrator choose the type of hardware that will serve the purpose and consume the least amount of power.

Hemo’s Take

Do not look at servers are as magical, difficult, expensive machines that working on them are rocket science. They are just like the machines that  we use at home, but with small  differences. Dealing with servers are just a nice journey into getting better at your job.

In the end remember, we the tech workers are supermen who do not wear  tight clothes 🙂