Servers are powerful computers or devices that provide services, data, or resources to other computers (referred to as clients) over a network. They handle various tasks such as hosting websites, managing databases, or running applications. Servers are designed to be robust, scalable, and capable of handling multiple requests from clients simultaneously. ### Key Types of Servers: 1. **Web Servers**: Serve web pages and content over the internet or intranets. 2. **Database Servers**: Manage and process large amounts of data for applications or websites. 3. **File Servers**: Store and manage files for multiple users on a network. 4. **Application Servers**: Host applications, allowing users to run them without needing the software on their local machines. 5. **Mail Servers**: Handle and deliver emails for clients. 6. **Game Servers**: Manage multiplayer gaming experiences by hosting game sessions for users. ### Key Features of Servers: - **High Processing Power**: Equipped with powerful CPUs to handle large workloads. - **Redundancy**: Often have backup components (e.g., power supplies, hard drives) to ensure continuous operation. - **Scalability**: Can be upgraded or expanded to manage growing demands. - **24/7 Operation**: Servers are typically designed to run continuously without downtime. Servers can be physical machines (dedicated servers) or virtual machines (virtual servers) running on a larger host machine. In modern data centers, servers are often grouped in racks and connected to each other and to external networks to deliver the required services.