Small business servers, both server hardware and server
software, is designed to help any
small business
planning to grow its operations. Business servers can assist in
handling communications,
database functions or hosting
business applications for multiple users.
What is a server?
A
server is a computer that delivers information and software to
other computers that are linked to it by a network. It also
provides centralised data management,
backup, and
additional processing power and storage.
In some cases, servers are used to run specific applications
that require more processing power or computing resources in order
to run efficiently. Large, processor intensive financial trading,
document management or imaging software might be an example of
this.
As a result, some organisations may choose to run
dedicated server boxes for
different applications, for example the ones listed above, plus
database management systems (DBMS) or
communications platforms, which regularly require their own
machines.
Servers tend to differ from desktop PCs in running a dedicated
server operating system, or network operating system. They
typically have more memory and more powerful processers, as well as
advanced networking and storage facilities.
Servers also tend to be built with reduced downtime in mind,
because they are responsible for keeping the desktops, and the
business itself up and running.
What does a server do?
As well as running larger server applications, a server can
deliver information to other computers that are linked to it either
through cables or
wirelessly through a
router.
As a result, servers tend to be used to centralise data
management and file sharing, as well as managing shared resources
such as printers and storage devices. They can also be used to
manage things like user identities, logins to the
network and access priorities.
Servers are also used for backup operations, such as automated
client backup, as well as remote access to files and applications.
In this capacity, they can act as gatekeepers to important company
information.
They might also run additional security suites to secure the
network through firewalls, intrusion detection, user access
management, and software updates.
How is server software different from desktop software?
Small business servers need to supply information and resources
to multiple users. So their operating systems and applications are
designed differently to
desktop software.
Server software might allow users to share, for example,
productivity or business applications, as well as e-mail
applications, Internet connectivity, data backup, and office
equipment such as printers and scanners.
The
Windows Small Business Server 2008 operating system is an
example of a server platform that is written to do these
things.
What is an application server?
An application server is basically a server that runs a specific
application platform from the likes of
Microsoft, Oracle, SAP,
IBM
or any of the other application vendors that sell server-specific
software.
What are the benefits of having an application server?
One benefit of using
application servers is that by centralising your business logic
on an individual server, or on a
small number of server machines (called a cluster), you can
guarantee you will have the right updates and upgrades to the
application for all users.
In other words, you won’t have old versions of the application
accessing or changing data in an older, incompatible manner.
Also, any changes to the application configuration or settings
can be done centrally, saving a lot of hassle.
You only need to secure a central server, rather than many
potentially insecure clients, and this means that you can protect
your database information better.
Your IT system can stand to perform better, as large server
applications with a heavy workload are run on dedicated machines,
keeping network traffic to a minimum.
It may also be easier for third party services firms to maintain
an application that resides on a single server, and software
licensing also becomes clearer cut.
How about virtualisation?
Virtualisation platforms from the likes of
VMWare and Microsoft allow businesses to lower their hardware
and computing costs by running multiple server or desktop
applications on a single physical machine, or fewer servers than
before.
Virtualised applications share the existing physical computing
resources of their servers, such as
processing and storage.