Server Based (Network Solutions)

Do you have to have a server to have a network or to share information?

No a small office could have a peer-to-peer network and still receive the benefits of network printing and an always on Internet connection.

The word “Server” has two meanings in a networked environment.
The first meaning pertains to a piece of hardware attached to the network. The Server (Hardware) typically is a stand-alone tower or rack mounted piece of equipment.. The Server (Hardware) is usually used for a specific purpose but it not used by any specific person within the business. In most cases the Server (Hardware) is stored in a closet, storage room or network room.

The second meaning pertains to a piece of software installed on a Server (Hardware), personal computer (Hardware) or appliance (Hardware) that performs a specific task across the network.

Below is a sample of software servers types:

DHCP Server - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server is a TCP/IP service designed to reduce the complexity of administering TCP/IP address configurations by using a Server (Hardware) computer to centrally manage IP addresses and other related configuration details used on your network.

WINS Server - Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) Server provides a dynamic replicated database service that can register and resolve NetBIOS names to IP addresses used on your network.

DNS Server - Domain Name System (DNS) is an Internet and TCP/IP standard name service. The DNS service converts domain names to IP addresses.

SMTP Server - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Server is a service responsible for transmitting electronic mail across the Internet.

POP3 Server - Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) Server is a service, which allows a user to retrieve email messages stored on an email server.