Types of Servers Overview

A server is a computer dedicated to providing one or more services to other computers or devices on a network.
Types of servers include: rack server, blade server, and tower server.

Application server: Stores and runs applications.
Backup server: Backs up and restores files, folders, and media.
Database server: Stores and provides access to a database.
Domain name server: Stores domain names and their corresponding IP addresses.
File server (or storage server): Stores and manages files.
FTP server: Stores files for user upload or download.
Game server: Provides a central location for online gaming.
Home server: Provides storage, internet connections, or other services to computers and devices in a household.
List server: Stores and manages email lists.
Mail server: Stores and delivers email messages.
Network server: Manages network traffic.
Print server: Manages printers and documents being printed.
Web server: Stores and delivers requested webpages to a computer.

Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing resources, such as servers and storage devices.
Server virtualization uses software to enable a physical server to emulate the hardware and computing capabilities of one or more servers, known as virtual servers.

A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful server that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously.

A terminal is a computer, usually with limited processing power, that enables users to send data to and/or receive information from a server or host computer.
A thin client is a terminal that looks like a desktop but has limited capabilities and components.
POS terminals are used in retail stores to record purchases, process payments, and update inventory.
ATMs (automated teller machines) are self-service banking terminals that connect to a host computer through a network.
Self-service kiosks are freestanding terminals that usually have a touch screen for user interaction.

A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful computer—and the most expensive.
Supercomputers are capable of processing many trillions of instructions in a single second.

Cloud computing refers to an environment that provides resources and services accessed via the internet.
Users access resources on the cloud through their internet connections.

An embedded computer is a special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger product.
- Consumer electronics, home automation devices, automobiles, process controllers, and computer devices and office machines use embedded computers.

Advantages include speed, reliability, consistency, storage, and communications.
Disadvantages include health risks, violation of privacy, public safety, impact on the labor force, and impact on the environment.

The system unit is a case that contains electronic components of the computer used to process data.
Components inside the system unit on a desktop personal computer include: drive bays, power supply, sound card, video card, processor, and memory.
The motherboard is the main circuit board of the system unit.
A computer chip contains integrated circuits.

The processor, also called the central processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries out basic instructions that operate a computer.
It contains a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
A processor repeats a set of four basic operations—fetch, decode, execute, and store—for every instruction. The processor contains registers to temporarily hold data and instructions.
The system clock controls the timing of all computer operations, and the clock speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz).
A processor chip generates heat that might cause the chip to burn up therefore, it requires additional cooling, such as heat sinks or liquid cooling technology.

Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processing the data.
Memory stores the operating system and other system software, application programs, and data being processed.

Nonvolatile memories (ROM) retain their contents even when power is off.
Types of ROMs include Programmable ROM (PROM), Eraseable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Eraseable PROM (EEPROM), and Flash memory.
Firmware consists of program instructions stored in ROM, including boot time code and the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).
Firmware is frequently used in graphics cards and disk controllers.

Memory cache speeds up computer processes by storing frequently used instructions and data.
Different levels of cache (L1, L2, L3) exist, each with varying access speeds.

Memory is classified based on storage capacity and access time. Internal processor memory, registers, cache, primary memory (RAM, ROM), and secondary memory (hard disk, etc.) are different classifications.

Registers are high-speed special-purpose memory units controlled by the control unit.
They generally hold intermediate results.
Some important registers include the program counter (PC), instruction register (IR), memory address register (MAR), memory buffer register (MBR), accumulator (ACC), data register (DR), and input/output register.

A bus is a channel that allows devices inside and attached to a computer to communicate with each other.
Buses are collections of wires that connect components within a computer.
Data, instructions, and control signals travel along the buses.
Types of system buses include the data bus, address bus, and control bus.

An expansion slot is a socket on the motherboard that can hold an adapter card.
Adaptor cards enhance the functions of a component of the system unit or provide connections to peripherals, such as a sound card or video card.

A port is the point at which a peripheral connects or communicates with a system unit (sometimes referred to as a jack).
A connector joins a cable to a port.
Types of ports and connectors include USB, Bluetooth, IrDA, port replicator, and docking station. Different ports are used to connect various peripherals like printers, mice, keyboards, and other devices.