Servers - Operating System requirements & Types

Holla a todos..!!

Server: A system's software & suitable hardware that responds to requests across a network to perform specific task on behalf of clients. Services can be either private users inside a large organization or to public users via internet.

A servers operating system should have following:

• Ability to reconfigure & update without restart 
• Backup facilities at regular intervals
• Automations; like daemon which runs in background process
• Tight security with authentication as *GUI is optional

Types: Depending upon the requirement different servers provide different client support services. Information about some of the important client model based servers are discussed here.


1. Name: DNS (Domain Name System) server translates domain names & host names into IP addresses needed for purpose of locating computer services & devices worldwide.

2. DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol  is a network protocol that enables a server to automatically assign an IP address to a computer from a defined range of numbers configured for a given network. DHCP assigns an IP address when a system is started. 

DORA Phases:

• A user turns on a computer with a DHCP client. 
• The client computer sends a broadcast request called a DISCOVER looking for a DHCP server to answer. 
• The router directs the DISCOVER packet to the correct DHCP server. 
• The server receives the DISCOVER packet. Based on availability and usage policies set on the server, the server determines an appropriate address if any, to give to the client. The server then temporarily reserves that address for the client and sends back to the client an OFFER packet, with that address information. The server also configures the client's DNS servers. 
• The client sends a REQUEST packet, letting the server know that it intends to use the address. 
• The server sends an ACKNOWLEDGE packet, confirming that the client has a been given a lease on the address for a server-specified period of time.

3. Proxy: A server that acts as an intermediary between a workstation user and the Internet so that the enterprise can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service. Web proxies can also filter the content of Web pages served. Some applications,which attempt to block offensive Web content  are implemented by Web proxies.

4. FTP: File Transfer Protocol  is a standard Internet protocol for transmitting files between computers on the Internet. Like the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which transfers displayable Web pages and related files and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), which transfers e-mail, FTP is an application protocol that uses the Internet's TCP/IP protocols. FTP is commonly used to transfer Web page files from their creator to the computer that acts as their Server for everyone on the Internet. It's also commonly used to download programs and other files to your computer from other servers.

 World Wide Web is the system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via internet, it is not mandatory to use WWW before making webpages where as http/https are required to specify communication to be used for request and response,where http(s) is for security usage.

*GUI- Graphical User Interface

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