A server is a system (software and suitable computer hardware) that responds to requests across a computer network to provide, or help

to provide, a network ser vice. Servers can be run on a dedicated computer, which is also often referred t o as "the server", but many networked computers are capable of hosting servers. In many cases, a computer can provide several services and have several servers running. Servers operate within a client-server architecture. Servers are computer progra ms running to serve the requests of other programs, the clients. Thus, the serve r performs some tasks on behalf of clients. The clients typically connect to the server through the network but may run on the same computer. In the context of Internet Protocol (IP) networking, a server is a program that operates as a sock et listener.[1] Servers often provide essential services across a network, either to private use rs inside a large organization or to public users via the Internet. Typical comp uting servers are database server, file server, mail server, print server, web s erver, gaming server, application server, or some other kind of server.[2] Numerous systems use this client / server networking model including Web sites a nd email services. An alternative model, peer-to-peer networking enables all com puters to act as either a server or client as needed. Usage[edit] The term server is used quite broadly in information technology. Despite the man y server-branded products available (such as server versions of hardware, softwa re or operating systems), in theory any computerised process that shares a resou rce to one or more client processes is a server. To illustrate this, take the co mmon example of file sharing. While the existence of files on a machine does not classify it as a server, the mechanism that shares these files to clients by th e operating system is the server. Similarly, consider a web server application (such as the multiplatform "Apache HTTP Server"). This web server software can be run on any capable computer. For example, while a laptop or personal computer is not typically known as a server, they can in these situations fulfill the role of one, and hence be labelled as one. It is, in this case, the machine's role that places it in the category of s erver. In the hardware sense, the word server typically designates computer models inte nded for hosting software applications under the heavy demand of a network envir onment. In this client server configuration, one or more machines, either a comput er or a computer appliance, share information with each other with one acting as a host for the other[s]. While nearly any personal computer is capable of acting as a network server, a d edicated server will contain features making it more suitable for production env ironments. These features may include a faster CPU, increased high-performance R AM, and increased storage capacity in the form of a larger or multiple hard driv es. Servers also typically have reliability, availability and serviceability (RA S) and fault tolerance features, such as redundancy in power supplies, storage ( as in RAID), and network connections. Servers became common in the early 1990s as businesses increasingly began using personal computers to provide services formerly hosted on larger mainframes or m inicomputers. Early file servers housed multiple CD-ROM drives, which were used to host large database applications.[citation needed] Between the 1990s and 2000s an increase in the use of dedicated hardware saw the advent of self-contained server appliances. One well-known product is the Googl e Search Appliance, a unit that combines hardware and software in an out-of-thebox packaging. Also produced were the Cobalt Qube and the RaQ. Simpler examples of such appliances include switches, routers, gateways, and print servers, all o f which are available in a near plug-and-play configuration.