Although there are too many different types of servers for me to mention them all here, I will endeavor to present basic information about a few of the more common server types that exist in the networks of today.
The Server Is For All of Us
The first point of note is that servers are not the exclusive prerogative of the client/server network model. They exist in the peer-to-peer network model. They exist in most small user environments. Even those with just the one computer and a network device called a router.
Remember, the moment you connect two computing devices you have a network and wherever a network exists then in all likelihood you will find servers. The point is that a server is not necessarily a separate discrete machine; it is a piece of software acting as an entity, which exists within a computing platform.
The server platform can be any computing device. It could be your desktop PC, or even the laptop, a PDA, an iPod, your phone or any other computing platform what so ever. Mr. Bill Gates reportedly said that he could foresee the day when there would be a computer everywhere in our homes.
Unfortunately, this alone is useless. We humans are users and as such, we consume services. Services are what that which serves provides. In other words, the server entity provides a service or services that other entities consume including the server itself, other servers and users (us).
Your toaster can be a computer containing platform housing a piece of software, called a server, which performs specific functions when asked to do so. In which case these functions would be to have the toast ready just they way you like it when you want it. This would be a type of server called a toaster server.
Without the special piece of “toaster server” software, it would be just another piece of overpowered hardware with some bread in it. Servers are everywhere and they are permeating our lives ever more every day. Just check out your mobile phone. It is the server software inside, which makes it all work at the touch of a button.
Another example that most of us users are generally unaware of is the fact that in using an Internet connection courtesy of an ADSL broadband modem/router we are in fact using a number of servers. There will be a DHCP server, a DNS server, some form of authentication server, a service management server and quite a few more.
Server Types
There are a number of different server types. The delineation between them marked by the differences in the nature of the services that they provide.
These services that servers may provide include all manner of “low level” services, automated services, transparent services, higher level services, user input triggered services, instantaneous services, dependant and independent services, service suites, operating system services, application services and many more. We are going to look at some of each.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server
The DHSP server can automatically assign a client with an Internet Protocol (IP) Address. The DHCP server is one of the automated that I alluded to when mentioning the single PC and router network above. This type of server once correctly configured can function automatically without the need for human intervention.
Domain Name Service Server (DNS)
The DNS server assigns “human friendly” names to machines and services. For more information, regarding naming services and building your own naming conventions and structures click here Building Your Own Naming Convention.
Domain Controller Server
The domain controller is a directory and name server commonly found in Microsoft Windows Server network environments. The domain controller typically provides authentication, logon privileges, rights and permissions.
In Microsoft Windows Server environments, the domain controller also manages Group Policy. Domain controllers and Group Policy are topics that I will discuss in another article.
File and Print Servers
In most instances, the File and Print servers come in combination as standard features of most operating systems today. This holds true for the Network Operating System (NOS). Together these two servers typically deliver such services as:
- Data Storage Management
- Network Print Server and Print Device (the physical device) Management
- Regulation of File and Print/Printer Resources Access Management
- Monitoring of File and Print/Printer Resources
- File, Folder and Print Services Sharing and Management
Here are a few of the more popular Network Operating Systems (NOS) that natively provide support for File and Print Servers:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows NT and the more recent Microsoft Windows Server 2008
- Mac OS X Print Server
- Novell SUSE Linux 10.2 Enterprise Edition
- RedHat Linux Server
- Ubuntu Server Edition
- Netgear's self contained network (Ethernet LAN) attached print server
- Samba - Samba is a free, open-source software solution that allows users to share files among computers running Windows, UNIX, & Mac.
