What types of servers are there?

Servers play a central role in our interconnected world. The way servers are used and the tasks they perform can vary in practice. In our article, we explain in detail the different server forms as well as the different server types.

Different Types of Servers: Server Forms

When the term "server" is mentioned, most non-tech-savvy individuals automatically think of a hardware server. In their minds, this is a device slightly larger than a desktop computer unit that runs continuously.

This perception is not entirely wrong. Hardware servers do exist and are used for many purposes. Hardware servers are computers that not only run an operating system but also share their computing power over a network with other computers. In addition to the operating system, multiple software-based servers (at least one) run on these hardware servers. In this form, hardware servers are often referred to as "hosts" or "host computers."

The simplest form is the Home Server, which is a private computer used for individual server tasks (e.g., hosting a website).

Hardware servers are not the only possible form of servers. To dispel this common misconception, let's take a closer look at other forms of servers:

• Virtual Private Servers (VPS hosting)
• Dedicated Servers
• Shared Servers
• Managed Servers
• Cloud Servers, Grid Hosting, Clustered Servers

Virtual Private Servers

Virtual Private Servers (VPS hosting) are essentially just a very large host on which a greater number of software servers are installed. The host, which is the hardware server where server virtualisation is implemented, must therefore be particularly powerful.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS hosting) present themselves to the server user as an individually administrable server, even though multiple software servers run in parallel on a single host. This allows a provider to make one host available to multiple customers, each of whom can then use the individual software servers. The biggest advantage of virtual servers is the significantly lower costs compared to other server types.

Dedicated Servers

"Dedicated" in this case means "devoted" - dedicated servers are dedicated as a whole to a single network service or customer. It is crucial to note that dedicated servers are not used for other tasks on the side like a traditional host machine, or used as a workstation. Dedicated servers are solely dedicated to a single purpose. When referring only to the hardware without an operating system, the term Bare Metal Server is also used.

For hosting providers, the term also means that you have full access to the physical device - this can even extend to deciding on various hardware components with which the dedicated server should be equipped.

The most significant difference compared to VPS hosting is that you do not have to share the performance of the dedicated server with other customers - the entire maximum server performance is available to you.

Hosting providers typically offer a range of dedicated servers to different customers side by side. Almost always, virtual servers are also offered alongside, so you can choose between one of the two server types according to your own requirements.

Shared Server

Shared servers, on the other hand, are the exact opposite of dedicated servers. The feared disadvantage of sharing a server with multiple customers (for hosting their websites, for example) - namely the potential performance losses due to overuse - is relatively rare in practice.

The reason for this is usually a very professionally executed so-called Load Balancing, which is able to keep the performance losses of all other customers relatively low even with very intensive use by a single customer. With professional hosting providers with high-quality business models, this is mostly achieved excellently.

What often speaks for the use of Shared Web Hosting servers are the very affordable costs compared to other server types. Performance and speed are easily sufficient for many customers and their applications.

Managed Server

With a Managed Server, you place your own server in a data centre. Although you own the server, you no longer have unrestricted control over your Managed Server.

What initially sounds like a disadvantage actually offers a very important advantage: you no longer have to take full responsibility for your server, as many tasks are taken care of by the provider with whom you have your Managed Server. This includes professional server maintenance. By not having to carry out such tasks yourself, a significant amount of work is eliminated - often resulting in considerable savings in terms of your own personnel resources and costs.

An alternative to Managed Server is known as Colocation Hosting. In this case, you retain full control over your own server, even though it is housed with a provider. The main advantage here lies in the professionally protected location.

Cloud Servers, Grid Hosting, Clustered Servers

Cloud Servers are relatively new - but not that new anymore. Cloud Servers are essentially clustered servers that provide individual users with very powerful server capabilities. A Cluster Server is created by combining several high-performance servers and then distributing the total resources.

Grid Hosting involves distributed hosting - the server cluster behaves like its own network. However, technically, this is a bit more complex to understand.

Cloud Servers are a very good solution for many purposes and should always be considered. However, data security should always be a consideration when it comes to Cloud Servers.

When choosing the right type of server, it is important to consider which server is best suited for which project.

Different Types of Servers: Server Types

In addition to the various server forms, one can also distinguish between different types of servers:

• App Server (Application Server)
• Database Server
• Email Server
• File Server

App Server (Application Server)

An application server is used to provide users with programs for use. The respective program then runs on the application server rather than on the user's local hard drive. This allows even resource-intensive applications to be easily provided, which no longer consume the resources of individual users as with a local installation of the program. If the program runs entirely on the server, it is also referred to as a "terminal server".

Another advantage is that the application only needs to be updated in one place and not separately on each user's individual computer. This brings both cost and time benefits.

Of course, more than just a single application can be hosted on a server - potentially even entire IT infrastructures. In this case, it is referred to as PaaS (Platform as a Service).

In some cases, such as with the LAMP server, some programs also work together in combination, but technically they are not the server types of a classic application server. LAMP servers are required for dynamic websites.

Database Server

A database server operates in a very similar way and offers similar benefits. In this case, a (usually very large) database is centrally located on the database server in a suitable database management system (DBMS), allowing individual users to directly access this central database.

Another advantage of the database server is that the data is only modified in one single location. This avoids the possibility of having a differently updated dataset on each user's computer, which can lead to significant issues.

Email Server

A mail server contains mailboxes for various users and handles the sending, receiving, and distribution of emails to the individual mailboxes in a central location. This is particularly advantageous when managing numerous mail accounts (such as in a large company).

Various Hosted Exchange solutions can also be classified under this server type.

File Server

File Server offer a similar benefit to Database Servers - except that in this case, it's not about database entries, but about entire documents. All documents created by users are available in one central location, so there are no different versions when it comes to changes and updates to individual documents - every user automatically sees the latest version of the document.

However, with this type of server, particular attention needs to be paid in practice to the access speed to the file system - it should be as high as possible to minimize delays when opening, editing, or updating documents.

GPU Server

A GPU server integrates Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) instead of or in addition to conventional CPUs, specifically optimised for computationally intensive tasks that benefit from parallel data processing. GPUs excel in applications such as machine learning, deep learning, graphics-intensive workloads, and scientific simulations. Unlike traditional CPU-based servers, GPU servers offer significantly higher computing power for specific workloads, resulting in faster insights and results.

Image credit: Gerd Altmann on Pixabay