Let me start by saying hi to all you readers out there. My name is Agent Siraj Patel and I've been with the Geek Squad UK since the beginning.
Through my working life (13 years), my main IT interest has always been 'Servers'. As time goes by, in my blog, I intend on talking about all the different type of servers and server applications that is sure to benefit all you business users.
Feel free to contact us if you have any comments or questions.
The word "server" often appears in discussions concerning the Internet (Web server, mail server and chat server for example) and company networks (print server and document server or just server). But how does a server differ from the computer sitting beneath your desk? What are servers used for and how might you benefit from using one?
A server is a computer, often a mid-to-high end system, which offers some kind of service or resource to a number of users, most often over a network. A server differs from a desktop system in that a server usually provides a small number of specific services to its users. Desktop systems are designed for everyday use, allowing users to perform a large number of tasks, from checking email or writing documents, to watching streaming video or archiving data.
Servers are used to support a number of users who may need to share a single service or resource. This resource is placed in a single location, on the server, allowing for easy configuration and management, while also allowing for access by a large number of users.
Take, for example, a Web server: A Web server can hold a multitude of information regarding an organization, such as product information, contact information, investor information, and support documents, just to name a few. Because all of this information resides in a single place, you can easily change, update, and manage it, while allowing any number of users to access that information by simply visiting the Web site.
However, there are many other uses for servers outside of Web hosting. Servers can be used for data storage or archival, for running centralized applications, for sending and receiving mail, or even as simply an efficient way to organize and manage a network infrastructure.
