Server or Server Application refers to both the server computer that runs the Interactive Programs and the Batch Programs, but more correctly to the Program itself that serves to provides responses to several users via many computers. Think of all the facilities you can get while your computer is connected to the Internet. To say the least, you can exchange data, send e-mails, download application forms of colleges and other such institutions, carry out on-line trading and what not?
How do you think this mass interaction is possible? It is the Server Computer that runs the server program. This serves to simultaneously interconnect the computers you use at home, in offices and the likes.
Based on the work that the server performs, servers can be distinguished as:-
Web Server – The web server utilizes the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server program. In other words, it accepts and delivers HTTP programs from the network computer system in order to accept and respond to client requests and instructions. An error message is forwarded by the web server in order o communicate any possible problem via the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML).
FTP Server – This is a sever that allows you to share and transfer files with other interconnected computers that form a network under the FTP server.
Game Server – Playing games on-line is a phenomenon that has gained popularity over the years. The game server with its huge bandwidth makes it possible for the client computer to exchange huge amount of data with the server computer.
Application Server – Most of you who are or have been students must have had the pleasant experience of downloading forms from the Internet instead of wasting time queuing up to buy the forms. The server that allows your computer to receive the concerned application forms is known as the Application server.
Print Server – It allows you to exchange data which can be printed from a desired computer system connected to the print server.
Database Server – Provides database services to networking computer systems.
Client Server – Being run on interactive programs, provides services to clients using the computers connected to the client server computer.
Fax Server – This server, as the name suggests, allows you to send and receive faxes to computers, interconnected via the fax server.
