What Are the Different Types of Servers?

There are different types of servers, and they all function to manage network resources. The name of the server determines its function. For instance, file servers are storage locations for users in a network to use. Servers perform dedicated function and perform no more functions aside from what they are programmed to handle Click for more.

• Application servers. These servers connect PC users to database servers. They are a type of middleware, occupying a huge space on any computer. Middleware should be thought of as software that links two separate applications. For instance, there is a middleware product that connects web servers and database. This particular middleware allows users to see web pages they ask their web browsers to see.
• Audio/Video servers. These servers allow multimedia to be played on websites. They allow streaming of music, audio, movies, and video clips. Streaming is a term that means to transfer data in a steadily from a source to an end user. This is different from actually downloading files, wherein you have to wait for the whole audio or video file to finish downloading before you can play it. When streaming, you can play the file while it is being transmitted to your device.
• Chat servers. Chatting has become one of the major means of communicating across vast distances. You can see and talk to someone from the other side of the globe. You can talk to colleagues and associates even if you are out of town. Chat servers allow real-time conversation. They allow people to be able to send a message or make a call right away on the internet.
• Fax servers. These are the types of servers that allow companies to fax hard copies of documents.
• FTP servers. File Transfer Protocol is one of the oldest internet services. FTP allows transmission of files from a computer source to another computer. FTP servers allow secure file transmission between computers.
• Groupware servers. These are special servers that allow users within a company to collaborate on the internet or within an intranet. People can then work as a team within a virtual setup.
• Mail servers. Mail servers are as important as web servers. Used by most people using the internet, mail servers allow people to send emails to other people. When you want to manage mailing lists, you are using list servers.
• News servers. These servers act as distribution source for public news groups. They are used to handle Usenet articles, which is a global bulletin accessible all over the world via online services. Usenet contains over fourteen thousand forums, which are called newsgroups. Millions of people use it every day.
• Proxy servers. These bridge servers act like filters standing between a web browser and an external server. Their function is to filter requests and improve browsing capabilities of a computer.
• Web servers. These servers are essential to people sharing files online. That means it is important to majority of internet users.
• Dedicated servers. A dedicated server serves a network to manage communication between computers within that network. Dedicated servers are usually rented from a web host.