{"id":2015,"date":"2026-04-03T12:30:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T07:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/?p=2015"},"modified":"2026-04-08T11:13:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T05:43:56","slug":"what-is-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/what-is-server\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Server?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=&#8221;2022&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/servers\/\">Servers<\/a> are the heart of an IT infrastructure, or a central hub that stores and facilitates all data exchanges in a business.<\/p>\n<p>Server is a hardware device or software, accessible from anywhere, providing resources like data, services, or programs to client computers through a network. With a server, centralize everything, secure your IT infrastructure, back up data, and share files within the team.<\/p>\n<p>It holds important files, manages emails, and hosts websites.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;How a server works?&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Here are the steps involved in the functioning of servers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Client Request:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>A request for data, services, or web page is created and sent to the server.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Processing:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The server receives and verifies the client\u2019s identity and furnishes the requested service in response.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Sending Response:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The requested information is processed and transferred to the client computer.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Verification:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The client attests if the information is accurate and presents it to the user in form of a web page, file, or information.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Error Report:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If the error occurs, the server reports it through an error message, that is sent to the client device immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Key Components of Server&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The following is a list of 10 essential server components:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Motherboard<\/li>\n<li>Central Processing Unit (CPU)<\/li>\n<li>Random Access Memory (RAM)<\/li>\n<li>Storage Drives<\/li>\n<li>Network Connection<\/li>\n<li>Power Supply Unit (PSU)<\/li>\n<li>Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Hardware&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>CPU:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/server-accessories\/processor\/?src=nav\">CPU<\/a> is a chip that processes instructions, fetches data from memory, and performs the assigned task. More core counts in a CPU means better performance for demanding workloads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Memory:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also called as RAM, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/server-accessories\/server-memory\/\">memory<\/a> is a short-term storage where data is stored when the server is processing any information. It provides fast access to data. More speed and capacity translate into better ability to multitask and respond.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Storage (HDD\/SSD):<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Storage means secondary, but a permanent data storage space. It includes media like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/server-accessories\/hard-drives\/solid-state-drives\/\">SSDs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/server-accessories\/hard-drives\/hard-disk-drive\/\">HDDs<\/a>, NVMe drives, cloud storage, disk arrays, portable storage, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Motherboard:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a large circuit board that works like a communication hub between various server components. It also comprises a BIOS chip, memory\/processor slots, and determines the amount of RAM, CPU, and drives that can be connected.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Network Interface:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Servers have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/server-accessories\/ethernet-cards\/\">network interface cards (NICs)<\/a> and internal network ports to enable connection and communication between local and Internet-connected computers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Software&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Operating System:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OS acts like brain in a server. OSes like Windows Server 2022 and Linux Mint 22 defines how the server responds or communicates with other computers. They are software that form the framework defining how a programs or an application runs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Mobile Apps:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are the programs written specifically with smaller screens like mobile devices in mind. These applications are fine-tuned to work within the limitations of a smaller screen, touch base, smaller memory, and battery operated devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Applications:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applications are a set of software, designed so that the users can perform tasks or functions that they want the computers to do. E.g., Photoshop is an application created for editing images and designing graphics.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Different Types of Servers&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;2023&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Servers can be used for a variety of services like sharing files, managing networks, hosting databases\/ web pages\/e-mails etc. Here is an overview of the types of servers based on the purpose it serves:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Application Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a program that runs on a server to provide a committed runtime environment for running, monitoring, and hosting applications. One can run the applications without the overhead of downloading much data or locally running the software. E.g. WebLogic<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>File Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> File servers stores data centrally, manages, and lets client computers access and share files on the same network. E.g. NAS device<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Game Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/shop\/best-game-server-rentals\/\"> Game servers<\/a> are responsible for accessibility, management, storage, and synchronization of player\u2019s activity on online games and multiplayer games. E.g., game servers for ARK.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Mail Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Purpose of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/hosting-services\/email-hosting\/\">mail server<\/a> is to facilitate sending, receiving, and storage of e-mails. They use protocols like SMTP and IMAP to manage e-mail traffic. E.g., Microsoft Exchange Server<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Web Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Web servers host websites and web applications, accept requests from clients (browsers), and sends the data requested. Apache HTTP Server<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Computing Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Computing servers are deployed to process large amounts of data, perform large calculations, and run simulations. E.g. computing clusters in research labs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Database Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These servers hosts databases. They enable accessibility, modification, storage, and retrieval of data to perform database queries requested by client applications.\u00a0 E.g. Microsoft SQL Server<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Print Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Print servers service print requests from client computers on the network, route them to the appropriate printers and organise the print queue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Virtual Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A virtual version of a physical server; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/products\/hosting-services\/vps-hosting\/\">virtual servers<\/a> use virtualisation technology to run a number of frameworks and applications on a single physical server. Virtualisation splits physical server\u2019s hardware (CPU, RAM, etc.)\u00a0 to make it available to one or more virtual machines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Proxy Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a gateway server that hides\/protects the identity of the\u00a0 client device by masking its true IP address and then forwarding traffic to its destination address. E.g. HAProxy<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Internet Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They route requests and results amongst the clients and servers over local networks and Internet. E.g. DNS servers<\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Communication Server:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication servers enable exchange of information among various devices like computers, routers, and switches, on the network. They also perform functions like routing data, filtering traffic, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;How to Choose a Server for Your Business or Website&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the markets brimming with servers optimised for every type of function, selecting an apt server may be an overwhelming task.\u00a0 Here are a few tips to facilitate a perfect server selection:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Determine what intended purpose the server needs to serve in your business. They may be needed for file\/data storage, hosting business-critical applications, remote working, web hosting, or database management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assess the workload needs, i.e., the type\/volume of data to be processed, number of users, and the applications to be used.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a budget to accommodate the devices required. This includes power and HVAC, networking, operating environments software, requirements, spare parts, other devices for maintenance support, and security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a physical server, identify the form factor, space where it&#8217;s to be located, level of efficiency and security required.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compare physical servers with a virtual server model to examine costs, power, efficiency, scalability, maintenance, control, and reliability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many businesses are choosing to shrink the servers into data centres, where more capabilities can be packed into fewer hardware resources. Know what actually matters and avoid missteps, unnecessary overheads, bottlenecks, and build scalable and smarter servers!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=&#8221;&#8221;]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=&#8221;2022&#8243; css=&#8221;&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Servers are the heart of an IT infrastructure, or a central hub that stores and facilitates all data exchanges in a business. Server is a hardware device or software, accessible from anywhere, providing resources like data, services, or programs to client computers through a network. With a server, centralize everything, secure your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[135,136],"tags":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-2015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guide","category-guide-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2015"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2015"},{"taxonomy":"offerexpiration","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.serverbasket.com\/help\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/offerexpiration?post=2015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}