Sciextor

Security is Everyone's Job

Servers

Servers are powerful computers or systems that provide resources, data, services, or programs to other computers, known as clients, over a network.

Servers perform various tasks depending on their type and function.

Some of the common tasks that servers do

Data storage and retrieval: Servers store and manage large amounts of data, such as files, documents, databases, and media content. Servers provide a centralized location for storing and accessing this information, making it available to authorized users from different locations

Website hosting: Servers host websites and deliver web pages to web browsers when users request them. Servers handle everything from text and images to videos and interactive features

Email services: Servers manage the flow of electronic messages. They receive, store, and distribute emails to their intended recipients. They also handle tasks such as spam filtering and user authentication

Application hosting: Servers run applications and software services that are not installed on individual devices. These servers provide the necessary computing power and resources to run applications such as online games, productivity suites, and collaborative tools

Different types of servers

Web server: A web server hosts websites and delivers web pages to web browsers. It uses protocols such as HTTP and HTTPS to communicate with clients

Mail server: A mail server handles email communication. It uses protocols such as SMTP, POP3, and IMAP to send and receive emails

File server: A file server stores and shares files over a network. It uses protocols such as FTP, SMB, and NFS to transfer files between clients

Database server: A database server stores and manages databases. It uses languages such as SQL to query and manipulate data

Application server: An application server hosts applications and software services that are accessed by clients over a network. It provides features such as load balancing, security, and performance optimization

Hardware

Modems: Modems enable a computer to connect to the internet via a telephone line. They convert digital signals from the computer into analog signals that can travel through the phone line, and vice versa

Routers: Routers connect two or more networks and direct traffic between them. They use protocols such as IP and TCP to route packets of data to their destination

Switches: Switches connect multiple devices on the same network and forward data packets to the appropriate device. They use MAC addresses to identify devices and create a table of their locations

Hubs: Hubs are simple devices that connect multiple devices on the same network and broadcast data packets to all of them. They do not have any intelligence or filtering capabilities, unlike switches

Bridges: Bridges connect two or more segments of the same network and filter data packets based on their destination. They use MAC addresses to determine which segment a packet belongs to and forward it accordingly

Gateways: Gateways are devices that connect two or more networks that use different protocols. They perform protocol conversion and data translation to enable communication between incompatible network

Firewalls: Firewalls are devices that monitor and control the incoming and outgoing network traffic. They use rules and policies to filter and block unwanted or malicious traffic, while allowing authorized traffic to pass through

Wireless access points: Wireless access points are devices that allow wireless devices to connect to a wired network. They act as a bridge between the wireless and wired networks, and provide features such as security, authentication, and encryption

Network interface cards: Network interface cards are hardware components that enable a computer or device to connect to a network. They provide a physical interface for the transmission and reception of data packets over the network medium