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Server Computer

Server Computer is an entity or a system that makes resource sharing on any computer networking system possible. The term Server Computer could apply to a software program or a computer with installed software and hardware capabilities that can let it share computing resources on a network. In a network with server-client architecture, a server is the provider of facilities, while the clients are the ones on the receiving end. They are the overseers and gatekeepers over a computer network, who control resource sharing and access rights of computers connected with it.

The hardware components of server computer comprises are similar to the components used in less expensive client computers. It is usually built from higher-grade components than client computers.

The following paragraphs describe the typical components of a server computer.

Motherboard
The motherboard is the computer's main electronic circuit board to which all the other components of your computer are connected. More than any other component, the motherboard is the computer. Some motherboards also include additional built-in features such as a graphics adapter, SCSI disk controller, or a network interface.

Processor
The processor, or CPU, is the brain of the computer. Although the processor isn't the only component that affects overall system performance, it is the one that most people think of first when deciding what type of server to purchase. At the time of this writing, Intel had four processor models designed for use in server computers:
  • Itanium 2: 1.60GHz clock speed; 1–2 processor cores
  • Xeon: 1.83–2.33GHz clock speed; 1–4 processor cores
  • Pentium D: 2.66-3.6GHz clock speed; 2 processor cores
  • Pentium 4: 2.4-3.6GHz clock speed; 1 processor core
The number of processor cores also has a dramatic effect on performance. Each processor core acts as if it's a separate processor. Most server computer use dual-core (two processor cores) or quad-core (four cores) chips.

Memory
Don't scrimp on memory. People rarely complain about servers having too much memory. Many different types of memory are available, so you have to pick the right type of memory to match the memory supported by your motherboard. The total memory capacity of the server depends on the motherboard. Most new servers can support at least 12GB of memory, and some can handle up to 32GB.

Hard Drives
Most desktop computers use inexpensive hard drives called IDE drives (sometimes also called ATA). These drives are adequate for individual users, but because performance is more important for servers, another type of drive known as SCSI is usually used instead. For the best performance, use the SCSI drives along with a high-performance SCSI controller card.

The network connection is one of the most important parts of any server. Many servers have network adapters built into the motherboard. If your server isn't equipped as such, you'll need to add a separate network adapter card.

Video Fancy graphics aren't that important for a server computer. You can equip your servers with inexpensive generic video cards and monitors without affecting network performance. (This is one of the few areas where it's acceptable to cut costs on a server.)

Power supply
Because a server usually has more devices than a typical desktop computer, it requires a larger power supply (300 watts is typical). If the server houses a large number of hard drives, it may require an even larger power supply.