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Home/Blog/Articles/Types of servers: functions and characteristics of 18 server types in computer networks

Types of servers: functions and characteristics of 18 server types in computer networks

1
How Cloud Servers and VPSs Work
2
Web Server
3
What Servercore Offers
4
Proxy Server
5
FTP Server
6
Application Server
7
File Server
8
Database Server
9
Mail Server
10
DNS Server
11
Collaboration Server
12
Gaming Server
13
Monitoring and Management Server
14
DHCP server
15
Fax server
16
Catalog server
17
Communications Server
18
Computing server
19
IRC server
20
Conclusion
Every IT infrastructure is composed of servers, much like bricks form a house. Servers have various configurations and serve various purposes. For instance, some convert requests into paths to specific IP addresses, while others store data. Server roles are so distinct that it is initially unclear why these components share the same name.

In this article, we will examine the structure of all primary server types and explore their functionality as individual IT infrastructure nodes.

How Cloud Servers and VPSs Work

Any server can be described as a HW/SW complex consisting of hardware (processors, graphics cards, RAM) and software that performs a specific function. For instance, it can serve as computational resources for development or as a “platform” for hosting network gateways.

There are cloud servers and VPSs, but they share the same purpose–consolidating resources to address business challenges. The main distinction is that a VPS utilizes resources directly, while a cloud server has a virtualization layer. This technology merges the resources of physical servers into clusters and offers them to users as logical units. Service providers ensure fire safety, networking, electricity, and cooling–all necessary for the proper functioning of servers.

The Importance of Servers

Picture any popular online service. It could be a hotel reservation website or a gaming application. Deploying the infrastructure for such a project on a home computer is unfeasible. More resources are needed to manage the service load from users, as well as a more intricate architecture–separate “blocks” are required for running the application, storing data and static content, backups, and so on. Servers act as these “blocks” in this scenario.

Server Components

Servers are engineered to ensure stable round-the-clock operation, flexibility, and scalability. When it comes to server equipment, it is typically installed in specialized racks within data centers. This allows for centralized backup and maintenance of the equipment. When examining server structures, nearly every configuration can be broken down into several components.

CPU

In contrast to desktop CPUs, server CPUs can operate continuously and under high-stress loads.

Their architecture enables minimizing downtime. This is achieved through multi-core processing, high clock rate, and ample memory reserved for caching.

Apart from that, there are three main architectural features to highlight:

  • Additional temperature sensors and even a tachometer to maintain the CPU’s operational state.
  • An integrated watchdog timer designed to restart the CPU in case of a freeze.
  • A unique mode for working with hard drives grouped into RAID arrays, as well as RAM that utilizes registered memory instead of conventional unregistered memory.

RAM

There is no specific “server” memory. Various types of RAM exist. Some are suitable for servers and some only for regular personal computers.

The distinction lies in the fact that server-installed memory supports error correction codes. Due to the load characteristics and multithreading in servers, this is a crucial aspect that ensures accurate processing. For conventional user memory, it is not that crucial, but it cannot be said that failures happen more frequently there. Simply put, this type of memory is not designed for server tasks and handles its workload well.

GPU

Server graphics cards are commonly used for working with ML models, rendering graphics, and solving complex analytical problems. Lately, the ML sector increasingly requests video memory for machine learning, as it can significantly reduce the time required for experiment calculations.

Handling this type of workload on gaming GPUs or a single CPU takes 2-10 times longer. Sometimes, it is even impossible due to the architectural peculiarities of server video memory. The key feature is automatic error correction, similar to what we described in the RAM section.

Server graphics cards do not have their own fans since they are designed to operate in data centers with dedicated cooling systems.

Drives and Memory

Providers aim to transition to standard SSDs and NVMe drives as they provide faster reading and writing speeds compared to traditional HDDs.

Moreover, server drives support RAID controller commands, possess a more advanced automatic error correction feature, have a longer warranty period, and are designed for multi-user operation.

Server Operating Conditions

It is essential to create appropriate conditions for server operation. It should not be affected by issues with electricity or internet connectivity. The server must securely store data, maintain cooling, and operate 24/7. Implementing such a system at home is nearly impossible due to fire safety and noise insulation requirements.

The server must operate seamlessly to ensure applications and services remain accessible at all times and clients consistently receive their data without losing anything during recording.

What is server architecture?

Server architecture is based on the concept of segregating functionality among separate servers, each responsible for a specific task. This approach enables load distribution and enhances system reliability.

Client-server implementation is the most common architectural choice. Users do not have direct access to the server but have an interface for submitting requests or commands. These requests are sent to a load balancer or a server (server cluster), depending on the project scale. The server contains code but not user data. Therefore, the server (if the database is not on the server) sends a request to the database (essentially another server). If the required information is in the database, it is sent through the server to the user interface that has requested it.

In this way, not only developers but also regular users can access the data.

Web Server

A web server is software that grants access to websites through HTTP and HTTPS protocols. It operates on the server and accepts requests from clients (e.g., browsers) and responds by sending the requested data.

Web servers are composed of several components:

1. A server application that processes requests and generates responses.

2. A request handling application that analyzes requests and determines which resources should be returned.

3. A database containing information about web pages and other resources.

4. A network interface responsible for managing incoming and outgoing network packets.

Web servers can operate on various operating systems: Windows, Linux, and macOS. Additionally, they can support different programming languages: PHP, Python, Ruby, and Java.

A single server can manage multiple websites using virtual hosts. This means each website has its own domain name and separate file set, but all are served by the same server.

What Servercore Offers

Servercore delivers cloud servers and VPSs for any project. Using the company’s products, you can have a ready-to-use server within minutes. Renting infrastructure is a convenient business solution as it saves on purchasing and maintaining your own equipment.

Furthermore, Servercore offers Managed Kubernetes services for comfortable work with containerized environments. This is an important component of modern cloud-native applications.

Through the Servercore control panel, you can have a server ready in a minute. Run as many virtual machines as you like without downtime and control resource consumption with easy-to-use monitoring and quota mode.

Proxy Server

A proxy server acts as an intermediary between a client and another server. It accepts requests from the client, forwards them to the remote server and sends the response back to the client.

Proxy servers are used for a variety of purposes:

  • improving network speed,
  • filtering traffic,
  • ensuring the security and anonymity of users.

Technically, the proxy server works at the application level in the OSI network architecture. It can be implemented as separate software or integrated into other applications, such as a browser.

The proxy server can use different protocols to communicate with the client and the remote server: HTTP, FTP, SOCKS, and other. It also caches data to speed up access to resources and reduce network load.

Proper use of a proxy server can improve system performance and security.

FTP Server

An FTP server enables access to files and directories on a remote computer through the FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Technically, FTP servers operate at the application layer in the OSI network architecture. Users can connect to an FTP server using a dedicated FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or a web browser that supports the FTP protocol.

FTP servers can grant access to files and directories using various authentication methods, such as anonymous access, username and password, or security certificates. They can also employ various encryption methods to safeguard data.

FTP servers have multiple configuration settings. Examples include restricting access to files and directories, setting user quotas, logging user actions, and more. What is more, data caching can be utilized to accelerate resource access and reduce network strain.

Application Server

An application server is server software that offers applications a runtime environment and access to various resources, such as databases, file systems, network services, and more.

Application servers provide a runtime environment for applications, enabling them to function in a distributed environment and share data with other applications.

Such servers can have various configuration settings, including scaling, load balancing, data caching, performance monitoring, and more.

File Server

A file server allows access to the file system and facilitates data exchange among users in a distributed environment.

The file server utilizes SMB (Server Message Block) or NFS (Network File System) protocols for data exchange between clients and the server.

Each authorized user is allocated a specific amount of storage space on the file server. Depending on access settings, other users can open, read, and edit these files too. File server permissions are established by the administrator.

File servers are frequently employed for storing and processing files, as well as serving as repositories and backup servers.

Database Server

These servers offer continuous data access and oversee proper storage, processing, and transmission of data. For example, database servers store corporate data and process client-server program databases. Therefore, fault tolerance and performance speed are crucial parameters for this server type. Database server selection is directly influenced by the tasks at hand.

Data replication between nodes is the key process. This entails maintaining three copies of the data. Data loss or incomplete transactions are thereby prevented.

Mail Server

A mail server enables sending, receiving, and storing electronic messages.

This server utilizes SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) for data exchange between clients and the server.

Mail server features:

  • spam handling and filtering,
  • protection against viruses,
  • user authentication,
  • managing message queues,
  • data backup and restoration.

Mail servers can have multiple configuration settings. For instance, configuration of mailbox storage, access to mail through web interfaces or mobile devices, message forwarding, auto-reply, and so on.

To ensure security and control access to mail, the mail server can employ SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) for traffic encryption, as well as authorization and authentication mechanisms.

DNS Server

A DNS server (Domain Name System) is in charge of converting domain names into IP addresses for computers and other network devices. They also assist in accelerating website access by caching domain and IP address information.

When a user types a web address into a browser, they use a domain name like servercore.com. The DNS server translates this domain name into an IP address used to connect with the server hosting the website.

When a user requests a domain name, their request is sent to the local DNS server, which checks its cached database. If the requested domain name is not found in the cache, the local DNS server sends a request to one of the root DNS servers.

Root DNS servers contain information about top-level domain zones such as .com, .org, .net, etc. However, information about specific domains is not located there. At the same time, they can point to other DNS servers that contain information about the requested domain.

When the local DNS server receives a response from the root DNS server, it sends a request to the DNS server responsible for the zone of the requested domain. If the requested domain name is in this zone, the DNS server returns the corresponding IP address. If the requested domain name is in another zone, the DNS server can redirect the request to another DNS server that manages that zone.

The DNS server can also be used to configure the reversing of IP addresses to domain names.

Collaboration Server

A collaboration server allows clients to interact with the same project, exchanging files and comments simultaneously.

The main functions of this server type are:

1. Storage of all documentation and projects that users work on. Plus access to the current version of the document at any time from anywhere.

2. Automatic synchronization of changes made by users to projects, so that all participants can work with the latest version.

3. Managing user access to documents and projects, and defining access rights for each participant.

4. Exchanging messages and comments in real-time to simplify team communication.

5. Creating data backups so that users can recover from a checkpoint in the event of a failure.

Gaming Server

A gaming server is deployed to maintain accessibility, storage, and management of game data (progress, game items, maps) in online video games. Servers of this type enable synchronous access to game content for players worldwide.

Gaming servers record all changes made by a player to prevent cheating and interference with other players’ progress. This employs various data synchronization algorithms minimizing delays and providing quick access to up-to-date information.

Access control is another important function. The server allows managing user access to the game, defining rights and queuing for each user. For example, administrators may higher access privilege than regular users, and if there are insufficient gaming servers, players can see their queue number on the screen. This phenomenon typically occurs on the project launch day.

Additionally, the server enables players to exchange messages and comments in real-time. This simplifies communication among game participants. Various messaging protocols, such as TCP/IP and UDP, are used for this purpose.

The server also automatically creates backups so that users can recover their game data in the event of a crash or data loss. Various data backup technologies, such as RAID and triple replication, are used for this purpose.

Monitoring and Management Server

This type of server is used to monitor and manage other servers in a branched network. It enables remote management and monitoring of the servers operation and provides information about the state of the servers and their load.

This employs performance monitoring systems, event logging systems, alerting systems, and automation tools.

For example, the automatic configuration tools include Ansible and Puppet.

The server protects network servers against hacks and attacks and provides administrators with information about possible vulnerabilities and security problems, such as DDoS attacks. Various security tools that operate together with monitoring servers are used for this purpose.

It allows administrators to respond quickly to problems and ensures the security and reliability of servers on the network. On top of that, it enables performance optimization and user experience improvement.

DHCP server

A DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server automatically assigns IP addresses and other network connection parameters to computers on the network. DHCP servers use the appropriate protocol to exchange information between clients and the server. Clients send a request for an IP address to the server, and the server responds by assigning them a free IP address from the IP address pool. The main function of a DHCP server is managing IP address conflicts. A DHCP server can identify IP address conflicts and automatically resolve them to prevent network issues.

Besides assigning IP addresses, a DHCP server can also allocate other network connection parameters:

  • subnet mask,
  • default gateway,
  • DNS servers.

This enables clients to effectively configure their network connections without manually inputting each parameter.

The DHCP server utilizes a database to store information on assigned IP addresses and other parameters. Depending on the network configuration, the database can be either local or distributed. Various algorithms, such as “first available” or “smallest available subnet mask,” can be used by the DHCP server to assign IP addresses.

By authenticating clients, the DHCP server also ensures network security. Different authentication methods, like MAC address verification or certificate usage, can be employed.

Fax server

A fax server enables sending and receiving faxes through the network. Fax servers can be installed on either an individual computer or a network server. They ensure the efficient and secure transfer of documents between different devices. Their principle of operation is similar to mail servers.

The main function of a fax server is to convert documents into a format that can be sent over a telephone line. The fax server employs data transfer protocols such as T.30, T.38, and SIP to exchange information between devices.

What is more, the fax server can store and manage faxes. You can set up automatic scheduled faxing, support for multiple lines to send and receive faxes simultaneously, and support for various document formats such as PDF, TIFF, and JPEG.

The fax server can use data encryption and authentication to ensure secure data transmission. The fax server can also be integrated with a document management system to automatically send documents to specific addresses.

Catalog server

A catalog server contains information about users, computers, groups, and other objects on the network. Catalog servers are used for managing and controlling access to network resources on a centralized basis.

Their main function is to store and manage information about users and other objects on the network. The catalog server uses the special Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) to exchange information between clients and the server.

It can perform a number of additional functions, such as user authentication and authorization, group management and security policies, as well as support for various data formats, such as XML and JSON.

The catalog server employs a database to store information about users, groups, and other objects on the network. The database can be distributed, which improves performance and scalability of the catalog server.

One of the important functions of the catalog server is to secure access to network resources. It can employ security policies to control user access to network resources. Data encryption can be used to protect information from unauthorized access.

On top of that, the catalog server can be used to automate business processes related to the management of network resources. For example, it can be integrated with a resource management system to automatically assign user access rights to resources.

Communications Server

A communication server enables the exchange of information between various devices in the network. Communication servers can be used to transfer data between computers, routers, switches, printers and other devices. They also perform the following additional functions:

  • data routing,
  • traffic filtering,
  • load balancing.

The communication server uses different protocols to transfer data between devices. For example, TCP/IP is used to transfer data on the Internet, HTTP is used to transfer web page data, FTP is used to transfer files, etc.

The communication employs various methods to secure data on the network. For example, it can use data encryption to protect information from unauthorized access and traffic filtering to block unwanted connections.

The communication server can be integrated with other systems, such as a resource management system, to automatically transfer data between devices on the network.

Computing server

A computing server can be used for processing large amounts of data, calculations, simulations and other computing tasks. For example, when you need to perform ML model training tasks or do data analytics.

Given the growing interest in neural networks and machine learning, computing servers are usually leased with GPUs. A graphics card ensures faster operation and saves budget on resources.

IRC server

An IRC (Internet Relay Chat) server provides communication between users using the IRC protocol. It allows users to communicate in real-time.

The main function of IRC servers is providing a connection between clients that use the IRC protocol. When a client connects to the server, they send a registration request and the server creates a connection between the client and other users on the network.

The IRC server uses the IRC protocol to exchange messages between clients. The IRC protocol uses a text-based message format and allows users to communicate in channels or privately. Clients can create their own channels or join existing ones.

The IRC server can employ various methods to ensure high performance. For example, clustering or resource virtualization for improved efficiency. It is also used to automate business processes related to communication between users.

Conclusion

Servers are diverse in nature. The term refers to both physical devices and more abstract concepts like gaming servers, which are also deployed somewhere–in the cloud or on a VPS.

Servers for any of the functions listed can be found in the Servercore control panel. Furthermore, you do not have to install the OS on the rented server–it happens automatically when you create the server. All you have to do is connect to the server via SSH and use it as intended. If you have any questions, please contact us.

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