Definition of

Server

Butler

Someone who serves as a servant can be called a servant.

Server is a term that comes from the Latin servitor and whose use has changed in recent years. Among the traditional meanings of the concept, the word is used to name the person who serves as a servant or the way in which, out of courtesy , a person refers to himself when addressing another.

For example: “The tycoon has the help of his eight servants, who keep his mansion in good condition and attend to his whims at all hours,” “Dora, this humble servant is willing to help her with whatever she needs,” “Don't worry.” “Sir, you can tell me a server.”

The server in technology

Currently, however, the notion of server is associated with the field of technology . In this context, a server is a computer that is part of a network and that provides services to other computers, which are called clients : “The portal is not working: the server is down.”

Servers are often used to store digital files. Clients , therefore, connect through the network to the server and access said information. Sometimes, a computer can fulfill the functions of server and client simultaneously.

Computer

A server is a computer that, within the framework of a network, provides services to other computers.

Classification according to type

Among the different types of servers, we can highlight file servers (they store documents and distribute them to network clients), mail servers (which save, receive and send emails) and web servers (they store documents which are accessible through the Internet ).

With respect to the classification of computer servers, two large groups can be distinguished: those dedicated , entirely to the service of network clients; non-dedicated ones, which can, in turn, function as local workstations . Likewise, it is possible to talk about a server :

  • Printing : used to control one or more printers, with the possibility of receiving jobs from several clients on the network. When there are a minimum of two documents pending printing, they are organized in a queue, to be attended to one by one; On the other hand, it is possible to modify the priority of each one with the purpose of altering the order.
  • Fax : similar to the mail server, but related to this older and considerably more limited information sending system .
  • Telephony : it offers a series of functions typical of telephone communications, such as automatic answering, through interactive systems with multiple options and voice recognition, capable of resolving customer concerns or referring them to an operator who can assist them. .
  • Proxy : It is responsible for performing some functions that maximize the performance of operations that occur very frequently, in addition to offering data protection services, such as fire wall. In addition, it manages the access permissions that computers on a network have to certain websites.
  • Remote access : carries out control of the lines that communicate one device to another to access it remotely, answering incoming phone calls, automatically recognizing connection requests, and carrying out the relevant identity verifications to finally proceed. , to the registration of new users on the network;
  • Of use : it solves the logical portion of the tasks that its users perform on other nodes, who send it a series of instructions that, once executed, are returned to them silently, as if the processing had taken place locally. This work system occurs very commonly in banks, private clinics and other institutions that handle large amounts of information and operate in front of the public.