A List of Common Network Server Types Explained

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.

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.

• 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

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.

• 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.