Techalyzer

If you are newer to the Internet you might be asking yourself – “What are computer servers and just what are they used for?” You might also be asking yourself this question simply because it has never concerned you much before. Usually we don’t think about computer servers much until it is time to buy a new computer, create a computer network or if it is time to move to another country. Then suddenly, thinking about computer servers becomes a priority.

Basically, a computer server is a computer system that provides services to other computing systems over a computer network. This is not as complicated as it sounds as it simply can mean a personal computer that needs a server to connect it to an Internet. However things get a little more complicated when you realize that the term computer server can also mean a system that provides secure services so that you can conduct financial transactions over the Internet as well.  These are known as SSL connections, which stand for secure socket layer connections.

If you are operating a home office with two or more computers or a home business then you might want to look into the different types of computer servers that are available to you. This is because once you add more than one computer to any type of setup you are technically setting up a network that needs to be managed somehow. Any computer that must be talked to on a network is called a “client.”

There are all kinds of different types of computer servers out there that can be part of a network that you specifically set up to make your business run more smoothly.  The different types of computer servers include the following –

The File Server – This type of server stores files and allows several different clients (users) to share the files at the same time

The Print Server – This is the type of server that you have probably encountered most often in your life. All these types of servers do is link up several computers to one printer, fax or Xeroxing machine.  Some types of servers that print can even spool information from clients whose computers are not even in the same building.

The Web Server – You use a web server every time you use the Internet. A Web server stores content such as HTML pages, URLs, PDFs and allows those surfing the web to access them. It also stores web files, images and scripts.

The Mail Server – A mail server stores, sends, receives and shares emails between clients. A mail service can be a minimal interoffice type server or as huge as Google or Yahoo. Some types of mailing computer servers also have an instant messenger service attached to them.

The Fax Server – These types of computer servers store, sends, receive and routes faxes for clients.

The Telephony Server – These types of computer servers provide automated voice mail, voice responder messages and the type of systems that ask you to press the keypad to arrive at specific options such as “Pay your bill by credit card now?” or “Press 0 to speak to the receptionist.”