Question

LINUX

Please conduct some research about the different types of servers there are, provide me 4 types. Provide me a summary of what you have learned for each.

Answer 1

In Linux there are different types of servers are there. Some of the servers are listed below

• Application Server  
• Cache server
• Print server
• File Server

Application Server

An application server is computer software which provides the business logic for an application program. It offers services such as management of large distributed systems, data services, load balancing, transaction support, and network security. The application server is one part of a three-tier application, consisting of a graphical interface server, an application (business logic) server, and a database / transaction server. Many application servers support the Java platform, but they can be found in other environments.

There are good reasons to deploy an application server in a corporate environment. At a high level, an application server enables updates and upgrades to applications to be distributed to all users. System administrators also benefit from the fact that changes to application configuration can take place centrally, which greatly simplifies the end user experience. Application servers also simplify user management, avoiding the need to set up and maintain user-management systems for applications. This type of software also enhances scalability and resource usage, and exposes business components via different deployment wrappers.As the cloud becomes increasingly more important, the role of application servers is only set to increase.

Cache server

A cache server is a dedicated network server or service acting as a server that saves Web pages or other Internet content locally. By placing previously requested information in temporary storage, or cache, a cache server both speeds up access to data and reduces demand on an enterprise's bandwidth. Cache servers also allow users to access content offline, including rich media files or other documents. A cache server is sometimes called a "cache engine."

A cache server is almost always also a proxy server, which is a server that "represents" users by intercepting their Internet requests and managing them for users. Typically, this is because enterprise resources are being protected by a firewall server. That server allows outgoing requests to go out but screens all incoming traffic. A proxy server helps match incoming messages with outgoing requests. In doing so, it is in a position to also cache the files that are received for later recall by any user. To the user, the proxy and cache servers are invisible; all Internet requests and returned responses appear to be coming from the addressed place on the Internet. (The proxy is not quite invisible; its IP address has to be specified as a configuration option to the browser or other protocol program.)

Print Server

A Print Server is a Computer that manages the printers on the network. All data to be printed is passed on to the Printer Server that allocates jobs to the printers on the network.

The print server is a sharing device designed to provide simple and efficient printer sharing. All users on the LAN, regardless of operating system or network protocol, will be able to share the printer(s) connected to the print server. By connecting the printers to a print server instead of a file server or workstation, it can reduce system loading, increase printing performance and allow different network protocols to be used simultaneously.

Network printing is a great way to save money on equipment. Print Serving can be set up to recognize one or several printers on the network for different jobs. It saves the cost of individual printers for each employee and allows work to be sent to the appropriate machine electronically, without having to run from office to office.

Real Time can set up Print Serving on the same machine that runs File Serving duties, but other configurations are possible too.

File server

A file server differs from a personal computer (PC) in that the server is dedicated to storing files in a centralized location while permitting access to networked computers.

By having a file server, users can save work and have access to files without having to carry around a disk. Access privileges can be restricted to guests and registered users. Meanwhile a centralized location means once place to backup all files.

File servers allow networked computers to share files at their discretion. Servers also allow you to save work and have access to it without carrying around a disk. On a personal file server, you can restrict access privileges to guests and registered users.

This is the most common type of server in small businesses. A file server enables all files to be stored in a central location, which accommodates centralized backup strategies (one place to backup all files) and security implementation (depending on the operating system, individuals can be assigned different access rights to stored information).

Linux works great as a network file server. Linux includes software called samba that allows files on the server to be viewed and edited on any Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT PC or Macintosh computer. In fact, you can connect to shares on the Linux file server, just as you would on your Windows NT/2000 file server. Everything will look the same and there are no per-user licenses required