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Servers

What is a Server?

A server is a computer or a device that provides resources, data, or services to other computers or devices, known as clients, over a network. Servers are designed to handle requests from multiple clients simultaneously and are typically more powerful than standard desktop computers in terms of processing power, memory, and storage capacity.

A Server is composed of several parts: CPU, RAM, Storage, Network Interface, Power Supply.

graph TD
    A[CPU] -->|Processes| B[RAM]
    B -->|Stores in| C[Storage/HDD]
    A -->|Manages| D[Network Card]
    E[Power Supply] -->|Powers| A
    E -->|Powers| B
    E -->|Powers| C
    E -->|Powers| D

    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#9cf,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#9f9,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#ff9,stroke:#333

The CPU and RAM

  • The compute component, the CPU, is the part in charge of the computation i.e. doing calculations.
  • The memory component, the RAM, is the part that allows us to store and retrieve information quickly.
graph TD
    subgraph Brain
        A[CPU - Computation] <-->|Fast Data Exchange| B[RAM - Fast Memory]
    end

    B -->|Stores in| C[Storage/HDD]
    A -->|Manages| D[Network Card]
    E[Power Supply] -->|Powers| Brain
    E -->|Powers| C
    E -->|Powers| D

    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#9cf,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#9f9,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#ff9,stroke:#333
    style Brain fill:#fff,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px

=> Those 2 compose the brain part of a server.

The Storage

The Storage holds persistent data and programs. You have 2 types of data, raw (files, images, videos) and structured data, databases.

graph TD
    subgraph Brain
        A[CPU - Computation] <-->|Fast Data Exchange| B[RAM - Fast Memory]
    end

    subgraph Storage
        C1[Raw Data - Files/Media]
        C2[Structured Data - Databases]
    end

    B -->|Stores in| Storage
    A -->|Manages| D[Network Card]
    E[Power Supply] -->|Powers| Brain
    E -->|Powers| Storage
    E -->|Powers| D

    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#9cf,stroke:#333
    style C1 fill:#9f9,stroke:#333
    style C2 fill:#9f9,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#ff9,stroke:#333
    style Brain fill:#fff,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px
    style Storage fill:#fff,stroke:#0f0,stroke-width:2px

The Network Interface

The Network Interface handles network communications thanks to Routers, Switchs, DNS Server.

graph TD
    subgraph Brain
        A[CPU - Computation] <-->|Fast Data Exchange| B[RAM - Fast Memory]
    end

    subgraph Storage
        C1[Raw Data - Files or Media]
        C2[Structured Data - Databases e.g. SQL]
    end

    subgraph Network
        D[Network Interface]
        D1[Router]
        D2[Switch]
        D3[DNS Server]
        D ---|Connects to| D1
        D ---|Connects to| D2
        D ---|Queries| D3
    end

    B -->|Stores in| Storage
    A -->|Manages| D
    E[Power Supply] -->|Powers| Brain
    E -->|Powers| Storage
    E -->|Powers| Network

    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#9cf,stroke:#333
    style C1 fill:#9f9,stroke:#333
    style C2 fill:#9f9,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style D1 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style D2 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style D3 fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#ff9,stroke:#333
    style Brain fill:#fff,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px
    style Storage fill:#fff,stroke:#0f0,stroke-width:2px
    style Network fill:#fff,stroke:#00f,stroke-width:2px

The Power Supply provides stable power to all components.

Key Functions of a Server

  • Resource Sharing: Servers provide shared resources such as files, databases, applications, or hardware (e.g., printers) to clients.

  • Centralized Management: They allow centralized control over data, applications, and network resources, making management easier.

  • Data Storage and Backup: Servers often store large amounts of data and provide backup solutions to ensure data security.

  • Hosting Services: Servers host websites, email services, gaming platforms, and other online applications.

  • Processing Power: They handle complex computations or tasks for clients, such as running databases or rendering graphics.

Types of Servers

  • Web Server: Hosts websites and delivers web pages to clients via browsers.

  • File Server: Stores and manages files, allowing users to access and share them over a network.

  • Database Server: Manages databases and provides data retrieval and storage services.

  • Mail Server: Handles email communication, including sending, receiving, and storing emails.

  • Application Server: Runs applications and provides business logic for client programs.

  • Game Server: Hosts multiplayer online games, managing player interactions and game data.

  • Proxy Server: Acts as an intermediary between clients and other servers, often used for security or caching.

Server Hardware vs. Software

  • Hardware: A physical server is a dedicated machine with high-performance components like CPUs, RAM, and storage drives.

  • Software: Server software refers to the programs and operating systems (e.g., Windows Server, Linux) that enable the hardware to perform server functions.

Virtual Servers

With virtualization technology, a single physical server can host multiple virtual servers, each running its own operating system and applications. This improves resource utilization and reduces costs.

In summary, a server is a critical component of modern computing infrastructure, enabling communication, resource sharing, and data management across networks.