Servers and Operating Systems
Technology is all about ease and making life better for us all. The advent of servers has made it easier for every one of us to get any information we need. A lot of us make use of servers without even knowing. It was recorded in 2019 that 11.75 million servers were shipped all over the world, therefore, making the global server market revenue achieve over 87 billion USD.
You might wonder, what then is a server? A server is a device or a computer program that makes data, services, programs, or resources available to other computers over a network. These other computers which supplies are made to are known as clients. The server can either be a hardware or a software device, but it is known for receiving and giving responses to requests made over a network.
The servers mainly manage all network resources efficiently so that requests made by clients are well accepted and attended to thereby giving the appropriate responses to these requests. These servers are so important because of the constant use of delivering the information needed by the client at any moment required. Servers are always on and never go off to avoid problems for the network users. Requests are always made every second by different clients from all over the world so it will be a big disaster when servers go down.
Types of Servers
There are different types of servers based on the capacity they function in. Some of the available servers include:
- Web Server: A web server receives and gives a response to requested HTML pages or files. A lot of us make requests on the World Wide Web using HTTP to access information, the web server responds to these requests providing us with the information we need. Here, the client is a web browser.
- Application Server: This is a computer program located in a distributed network that makes available the business logic for an application to run. Applications, be it system or desktop, run on application servers to function appropriately.
- Database Server: This type of server hosts one or more databases, therefore, retrieving or writing data from the hosted databases when requested for. The client-server model explains database servers as applications that make database services available to other computers.
- File Server: This computer program stores and manages all types of data files including images, videos, audio files, documents, etc, for clients to have access to them. The server makes it possible to easily move these files from one place to the other without using physical channels.
- Print Server: The print server gives its users access to print devices acting as a queue for the submitted print actions by the users. This can be prioritized based on the user that submits the print job or the type of print job requested.
- Proxy Server: This server acts as a mediator between a device and another server a client is making a request from. This server operates as a relay acting on behalf of the computer user to other servers that provide the resources the user needs.
OPERATING SYSTEM
Servers cannot function without an operating system. For greater performance, the server needs to be supported by the special operating system it requires to carry its work efficiently.
What is an operating system? An operating system is an installed software that manages hardware resources and software resources so that coordinated operation and communication are made possible between the hardware and the software. The operating system serves as an interface between the computer hardware and the computer user thereby controlling how all types of programs are executed on it.
A computer user sends instructions and commands to the software to carry out its function using the computer hardware, but the software cannot carry out these instructions without the help of an operating system. The operating system makes it possible for the software to understand and interpret the command so that the software can perform and carry out the said function.
The server operating system is also known as the server OS. It enables other applications and software to run on the server hardware. This makes it possible for the different types of servers to carry out their functions and purposes due to the facilitation of the server operating system.
Types of Server Operating Systems
There are so many types of server operating systems in the world but there are four mainstream server operating systems that have developed awesome versions over time. These four mainstream are:
- Linux/UNIX operating system
- Cloud servers
- Microsoft Windows operating system
- Netware operating system
Linus/UNIX Operating System
The Linux/Unix operating system is an open-source operating system with many versions such as CentOS, Debian, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, among others. It is a well-known operating system often used with the Apache web application server. This operating system was created in 1991 by some students of Finnish universities. It has features like a high-level language compiler and text editors making it easier for menus and windows to work with the system.
Cloud Servers
Cloud servers are virtual servers that are accommodated on a third-party infrastructure on an open network like the internet. Amazon was the first company to introduce cloud servers before other cloud servers came into existence. The Amazon AWS allows clients to design their virtual server and then modify the number of resources used to their taste. Some other cloud servers aside the Amazon AWS are IBM Cloud, Google’s Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and much more.
Microsoft Windows Operating System
Microsoft has been in the business of making server operating systems with the first being the Windows NT. Their very first operating system made it possible for certain computers to respond to requests and share resources for clients. Microsoft has been producing so many versions over time intending to make the new better than the last. The latest Windows Server is the 2016 version which supports many databases and applications having unique file management, managing large memory capacity, and symmetric multiprocessor systems. It also allows hypervisors that enable virtual servers.
Netware Operating System
This operating system was greatly used a long time in the early computer age. This operating system needs a dedicated server in the network to function. The operating system had features like providing shared file access, managing physical memory of a large capacity, supporting multi-process, and so on. The company later moved the operating system changing its name to Novell Open Enterprise Server (OES).
From IDC reports on server hardware sales data, it is discovered that 50% of servers are running on Windows while 28% run on Linux. The remaining 22% run on the other available servers in the market. This shows that Windows is the most used server operating system because of the modern features.
Without servers, so many people in the world will have great trouble getting responses to the information requested. Managing the network resources makes it very easy for you and me to get the appropriate information we need without mistakes and stress. The server operating system even makes it easier for the servers to carry out the right function by understanding the commands and instructions sent by the client.
About the Writer
Moses Achi Juana is an accomplished IT professional specializing in Cyber Security and Forensics. He is passionate about leveraging his expertise to drive development and IT projects in developing countries.
- Moses Achi Juana
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