what is purpose of a server?

**hukilau** · February 17th, 2003, 11:19 PM

Our office has 5/6 workstations and a server. In layman's terms, what is the purpose of the server? Each office has a mid-tower with nt4.0. Is it just so u can be networked or for accessing the web? Just curious.

hukilau

**crouse** · February 17th, 2003, 11:25 PM

It can be used for lots of things.

A Terminal Server actually runs many terminals from one actual computer....the other computers act as "dumb" terminals....running everything from the central server. Saves alot of IT admin headaches.

A file server can share files between all the computers it's connected to.

A web server allows other people on the net to connect and view content it has.

A mail server can handle mail for a huge office.......forwarding it on to the correct person........also allowing local mail.

An intranet server allows a company to create a "website" that is viewed only by the connected computers. This allows for shared databases, collaboration of projects etc.

An ftp server allows uploading an downloading of files.

A mysql server allows databases to be run on the computer.

There are lots more of course......

**EvilRick** · February 17th, 2003, 11:28 PM

The purpose is "too serve".

You could have a file server, web server, print server . . .

The sole purpose is to provide a point for people too share some resource(s) so that they all don't need to have one of their own.

**PresterJohn** · February 17th, 2003, 11:31 PM

a server in its simplest terms is a computer that serves requests made by its clients.

requests can be in the form of data (file/data/web server), services (dhcp/dns/print/etc), or programs (application/terminal server,etc).

**hukilau** · February 17th, 2003, 11:32 PM

Thanks Crouse. I just didn't understand why each office had their own tower with windows nt and the need for the server. So, if a particular office was having problems with pc performance, ie: slow boot up/log off or just plain slow, it's nothing to do with the server?

thanks, hukilau

**hukilau** · February 17th, 2003, 11:34 PM

you guys are quick! thanks you mean like company info such as financial/personnel/ operations that sort of thing probably kept on the server, the individual workstations dont keep all that info, they are just for that individuals working environment, then when info needed, they download or just check the server for data needed?

mickwish · February 17th, 2003, 11:39 PM

Boot up's are often slow because of server issues. Many clients run stuff on boot from the server, so once it boots into the operating system it makes demands of the server. If the server is inundated with demands form many clients, or is just plain slow server, it can get bogged down, and makes the clients boot slow.

Bet I'm too slow here - these guys are quick and my typing isn't

Cheers
Mick

**hukilau** · February 17th, 2003, 11:44 PM

Hey mick, so when I log onto the receptionist pc, I'm not boot from the tower under her desk? I'm actually booting from the server? Sorry, I'm just trying to understand how it all comes together.

huki

mickwish · February 17th, 2003, 11:49 PM

Nah, you boot from the PC you are on, but it gets data and runs applications off the server. Most office LAN's run stuff at boot, meaning when the client PC starts it connects to the server straight away, and runs stuff.

So if it takes a loooong time to actually get tothe point of loading the operating system, it probably not the server's fault. BUT, if it take sa looong time to LOAD the operating system and startup files, it could be the servers fault. I have a Celery 400Mhz at work, running win95

and it takes about five full minutes to boot, because of all the server applications it has to run / connect to.

Hope that makes sense.

Cheers
Mick

**hukilau** · February 17th, 2003, 11:53 PM

yes it does. Thanks for explaining that. I have been spending more time at the office, filling in when the bosses are gone. I was just trying to figure out why things are the way they are, ya know?
thanks again

Hukilau

They are getting bids for switching from dial up to dsl or cable. A little behind the times, but we are getting there. Waterfountain conversations about servers/dsl and what not is what peaked my curiousity.

they don't know I have a secret weapon for getting answers

**elroy** · February 18th, 2003, 12:39 AM

If they are running 5/6 pc's and a server on a single dial-up connection, that is a problem right there.
If all anyone does is email then it would be ok but if they do web surfing, OH BOY!

**Nighthawk** · February 18th, 2003, 01:00 AM

it's probably used for authentication and home directories. It's quite useful to have everyone's home directories in one location so you just have to select one folder in NT backup instead of tracking down where everyone's files are.

**plucky duck** · February 18th, 2003, 02:34 AM

There's prolly a database that users are accessing from the server, along with user accounts and profiles (which can get quite large depending on how it's setup which), an email server setup, plus maybe an intranet server. The server prolly the DNS and DHCP server as well since there's only one. User datas are prolly stored on a share located on the NT server as well.

When I thought of the term "server" I thought it meant something physical. One role per server. Basically any application that serves can be called a server.