Month: October 2020

A List of Common Network Server Types Explained

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Here is a list of common network server types. A network server is a computer or device that provides resources, data, services, or programs to other computers (clients) within a computer network. Servers perform varied and complex tasks. Network servers for large networks are engineered to accommodate the expanding user needs. Theoretically speaking, any computer that shares resources with client machines is itself considered a server. A computer can be both a server and client at the same time. This is in case it is providing resources and at the same time obtaining them from another system.

Common Network Server Types
A rack-mountable server with the top cover removed to reveal internal components

In the early days, servers were mainframe computers or minicomputers. Dumb terminals were connected to these servers. Hence, actual computer work was done on the server only. Later on, things changed. Servers became single powerful computers serving less powerful computers within a network. In modern technology, a server can just be software running on a computer. These server types are known as virtual servers.

A server can be engineered to perform a single task for instance a mail server. A mail server receives and stores emails before then providing them to requesting clients. Other servers are designed to do several tasks. A good example is file and print server which stores files and prints works from clients by using a network printer.

Any device acting as a server must be configured to listen to requests made by clients within a network. This function is implemented as an installed application, role (services), or a combination of the two.

The Different Network Server Types Include the Following;

  • Print Servers: – They manage user access and use of printer resources. Print servers are set up on a network to route print requests from other computer workstations on the network. The server handles the print request and sends the file to the requested printer where it is printed. A print server allows multiple users on a network to share the printer.
  • File Server: – These servers stores and distributes files within a network. Users within a network can access files shared on the server. A file server can be optimized to maximize the read and write speeds. This drastically improves its performance.
  • Application Server: – This type of server is designed to run application programs on behalf of the client computer. It is best for resource-intensive applications being shared by a large number of clients. This eliminates the need for each client to have enough resources to run the application being shared. An application server will save you the need to install and main software on several client computers.
Client-server network
Clients accessing services from a server
  • Web Server: – This is an application server that stores programs and data required by users across the internet. A good example of web servers is Apache web servers, Nginx servers and Microsoft Internet Information Services Servers. The client computer runs an application called a browser that requests information from the web servers. Web browsers are programs, generally free, that are installed on computers and used to access the pages of a website located on the Internet or stored on a hard drive, flash drive among others. These programs are usually free to update to the latest versions.

Some Examples of Web Browsers

  1. Google Chrome
  2. Internet explorer
  3. Mozilla Firefox
  4. Safari
  5. Avant browser
  6. Windows safari
  7. Opera
  8. Konqueror
  9. Netscape.
  10. Firebird
Common Web Browsers
Some Common Web Browsers

A List of Network Servers Continued

  • Database Server: – A database is an application that stores records that contain information. A database server runs a database application that is based on the client/server architecture or model. The application is divided into two parts. A front-end running on a workstation (where users collect and display the database information) There is also the back-end running on a server where the tasks such as data analysis and storage are performed. Many companies keep their database on servers so that clients can access it from their client computers.
  • Mail Servers: – They manage electronic messages between network users. They receive and store emails sent to the user until requested by the intended client. Today, most people think of mail servers in terms of the Internet. Mail servers were however originally developed for corporate networks that are LANs and WANs.
  • Fax Servers: – They manage fax traffic into and out of the network by sharing one or more fax modem boards. They help users of a network to send and receive fax messages. The term fax server can also be used to describe a program that enables a computer to send and receive fax messages.
Server Types - Gaming Server
A Dedicated Gaming Server
  • Communication Servers: – These are servers designed to handle a wide variety of communications-based applications. They provide users with communication services to transfer or access files on a network or even on remote locations through telecommunication links. Acting as intermediaries, they allow networks running different applications and protocols to communicate with one another. They are designed using open based computing standards.
  • FTP Server: – This is another example of network server types. An FTP server is a software application running the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the protocol for exchanging files over the Internet. FTP works in the same way as HTTP for transferring Web pages from a server to a user’s browser. It uses the Internet’s TCP/IP protocols to enable secure data transfer. FTP is most commonly used to download a file from a server using the Internet or to upload a file to a server.
  • Proxy Server: – This is a server that sits between a client application, such as a Web browser, and a real server. It intercepts all requests to the real server to see if it can fulfil the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the real server. Proxy servers have two main purposes. They can dramatically improve performance for groups of users. This is because it saves the results of all requests for a certain amount of time.  Proxy servers also filter requests to block or disallow specific types of outgoing or incoming requests to the server.
  • Gaming Servers: – They connect gamers to external servers giving them access to a multiplayer video game they wish to play.
  • Virtual Servers: – Virtual servers are installed as an operating system on the machine hardware. They are cost-effective and provide faster resource control. They are commonly used in web hosting environments.

Conclusion

These are just a bunch of common network server types. There are many more out there and you are welcome to mention here below in the comments section. Thanks for your time.

13 Main Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Networks

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There are several advantages and disadvantages of computer networks. Before we have a look at them, let us remind ourselves what a computer network is. A network is an interconnection of computers that use a set of similar communication protocols so that they can share provided resources. A network provides its users with unique capabilities beyond what an individual computer and its software applications can give.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Networks
A Computer Network

Most of the advantages and disadvantages of computer networks can be divided into two generic categories. These are connectivity and sharing. Networks interconnect computers and their users together. They also allow for smooth sharing of information and resources available within the network.

These are some of the specific advantages generally associated with computer networks.

  • Entrepreneurs Can Make Money: There are numerous ways people are making money online. Such methods include blogging, online surveys, paid for searching the web, online market trading, YouTube videos, selling products, review websites and apps for cash among others. All these methods rely on computer networks to give opportunities to those using them.
  • For Learning Purpose: Computer networks have made it possible for people to learn online. There are many online courses available for anyone who wishes to learn. You can nowadays complete a course online and get certified without entering a classroom.
  • Connectivity and Communication: Networks connect computers and their users. People within a building can be connected into Local Area Networks (LANs). LANs in distant locations are connected into larger wide area networks (WANs). Once connected, the network users can communicate with each other using various technologies such as electronic mail, chatting, among others. This makes transmission of data easier, more efficient and less expensive than it would be without the network.
A shared network printer
A network printer
  • Data Sharing: Networks allow sharing of data easily and fast. This helps in saving money, time and effort that would have been used if there were no networks. Some applications give many people the ability to access and share the same data, such as databases, group software development, and much more. Intranets and extranets can be used to distribute corporate information between sites and to business partners.
  • Hardware Sharing: Networks facilitate the sharing of hardware devices. For instance, a department with ten or more employees can have one shared printer available. This is as opposed to giving each of them a printer. Other devices that can be shared in a network include DVD Drives, scanners, hard disk drives, faxes, photocopiers among others.
  • Electronic Mail: A network provides a powerful communication tool known as email. Electronic mails enable people to communicate across the internal network and into the entire world through the internet.

Advantages of Computer Networks Continued

  • Internet Access: The Internet is itself an enormous network, and whenever you access the Internet, you are using a network. With internet access, you can be able to achieve a lot. For instance, the internet is widely used for research work, learning purposes, entertainment, communication, doing businesses among others.
  • Internet Access Sharing: A computer network allows multiple users to share a single Internet connection. Thus an organization will purchase one high-speed connection instead of many slower ones. This reduces the cost that could have been incurred.
  • Data Security and Management: In a business environment, a network makes it possible for administrators to manage the company’s critical data. This is by centralizing the data on shared servers and making sure it is secured. This is by implementing security measures to control persons who can access or change various pieces of critical information. The users will be able to access the data whenever needed. The system administrators will be able to ensure that the data is regularly backed up.
A hacker
Critical data must be protected from unauthorized access
  • Remote Login: Remote login makes use of simple desktop sharing software to give the user a “remote control” for accessing ones computer and all of its software and hard drive files. One can access it from any Internet-connected device anywhere in the world. Remote login only works when the host computer is powered on, connected to the Internet and running the desktop sharing software. Some versions of Windows come with built-in remote desktop software. However, there are plenty of third-party tools available.
  • Performance Enhancement and Balancing: This is a situation where the overall performance of some applications is enhanced. This can be done by distributing the computation tasks to various computers within the network.
  • Entertainment: There are many ways you can entertain yourself within a network. For instance, one of the ways is through games.
  • Reliability: A network environment can be set up to be reliable. This can be done by implementing UPS and fault-tolerant RAID systems. These will help overcome power failure and disk errors problems.

Note:

Fault-Tolerant: – This describes a computer system that is designed in such a way that in the event a component fails, a backup component or procedure can immediately take its place with no loss of service.

RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places (but redundantly) on multiple hard disks.

UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply – is an electrical device that provides emergency power to load (device consuming power) when the mains power fails. It provides immediate protection from power loss by supplying energy stored in batteries.

Connecting network components into a fault-tolerant configuration make sure that one hardware failure will not affect the entire network. Fault-tolerant networks are created by providing redundant data paths, redundant hubs, and other such features.

Uninterruptible Power Supply
Uninterruptible Power Supply

The Disadvantages of Computer Networks

In the beginning, I promised to have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of computer networks. As we have seen, there are a lot of benefits of computer networks.  Let us have a look at some of the disadvantages.

  1. Expensive to Setup: – It quite true that setting up a network will require a lot of money. This is because of the network hardware, software and setup costs involved. Setting up the network requires quite an investment in hardware and software, as well as funds for planning, designing and implementing the network.
  2. Hardware and Software Management and Administration Costs: Once the network is set up, it requires regular maintenance and management. Thus qualified IT professionals and system administrators must be hired.
  3. They Create More Presence of Computer Viruses and Malware: Computer viruses and malware spread very fast within an insecure network. They can cause a lot of havoc especially when the integrity of data is threatened. An extra cost is incurred to secure the network.
  4. Illegal or Undesirable Behavior: A lot of undesirable activities take place within a computer network. Such activities are downloading illegal materials, software piracy, hacking networks, among others. These issues are controlled through more management costs.
  5. Data Security Concerns: A poorly-secured network puts critical data at high risk and exposes it to the potential problems associated with hackers, unauthorized access and even sabotage. This is a major challenge in the modern world where evil people thrive in abundance.
  6. Breakdowns: It is common knowledge that if a shared server goes down, all people connected to it will not be able to access the shared resources. Extra costs have to be incurred to ensure that such breakdowns are avoided.

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed learning about the advantages and disadvantages of computer networks. Note that these are just a few as they are many others.

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Thank you for your time.

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