What is the Function of a Computer Server? what are the most popular server operating systems?
The main function of the computer is to store the computer files and data, retrieve it and send it to other computers over the network system. The majority of the business organizations use the local area network to connect with the number of computers existing in the company. On the other end, when coming to a larger scale, computer systems worldwide connect with network known as the Internet, where a large number of servers that are located around the world in different geographical locations. So the data files and the functionality of any given website are based on the servers.
The servers have more memory, storage, and processing power when compared to their client computers. A client is a system that is not performing as the server but it requests the information from the server. When the computers are connected in a wireless system but share the information or the services, which is normally referred to as a computer network. The computer network usually requires a minimum of two participating computer systems, where when one behaves like a client and the other as a server.
The majority of the computer systems utilize this kind of client-server network model that includes email services and websites. The other alternative model is the peer-to-peer network model which enables all the computers to behave as either a server or the client.
Depending on the server applications and the client numbers, the requirement for the servers keeps varying. The servers should be in the continuous operating state for a longer period with no interruptions, which implies that the hardware durability and reliability are important to the extreme. The servers are often noisy and require a continuous stable supply of power, with better Internet access and highly secured security, hence they are usually stored in the dedicated server rooms.
The computer servers are the computer systems that are specifically designed both in terms of software and hardware, that is used as a service provider to meet the demands of the requested client computers over the network.
To meet the demand of the clients, the server system is expected to have a hardware specification high when compared to the client system features such as the capacity of the hard drive and processor speed. Even the software must always be timely updated so it is attack resistance, either from within or outside the network. To maintain the performance of the server, it requires a specific operating system that is solely designed for the server.
Few of the operating systems for the server that are used in a network are as below:
- Windows Server
- macOS Server
- FreeBSD
- Solaris
Because the server operates 24/7 round the clock, so the necessary steps to be taken care for the server computers to maintain an optimum performance are:
- Vacuuming routinely from dirt and dust.
- Give attention to the function of software exceptionally when software associated with security.
- Implement automatic data backup.