Server questions???

[Jim T]

What is a server? What does it do?
What are the minimum requirements of a server?
Etc, etc?
I have two computers networked together here at home, and will need to add one or two more. I know I will have to get a hub.
Or will I?
Will a "server" work? What is a server? What function does it perform?
Can I take an old P166 and convert it??
I am totally uninformed on this subject that I am not sure if I am researching down the right road!
Any info/thoughts appreciated!!!!!

[Rick]

A server is just what the name implies.
It serves the other computers on the network.
For shared data files, printers, and programs.
Or you have a cross platform network setup.
IE; Apple, windows, Linux, All connected to the same network

In most Home networks the server is not needed.
If you intend to setup each system with it’s own boot drive and data storage.
And only share files, connections , printers
(Note Many programs won’t allow network sharing)
(Unless you buy the network version $$$$$$$$ )

Yes you should go with a Hub.
Unless you intend to share a DSL, Isdn, or Cable modem internet connection
Then you should look into a Broadband Router

They run anywhere from $129 to $500

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 03-09-2001).]

[sleddog]

A server serves files or applications to other machines (users) connected to it on a network. Many users can connect to the same server at the same time. For example, a server is making this forum avalable to many people simultaneously.

Requirements depend on the how much traffic the server gets, what is being served, and which operating system (OS) the server uses. For example, a 486 with 48mb RAM running Linux OS does an excellent job serving straight HTML (web pages). For networked-based applications requiring much more processing power, a much more powerful machine is required.

I small hub is the usually way to create a home network now, using twisted pair wiring. You *can* create a network of 3 or 4 machines without a hub. You would use coax cabling (with the round BNC connectors). Machines are connected serially, one to the next. This is what I have at home for simple file-sharing and printer-sharing. It is a 10mb network, compared to (usually) a 100mb network usuing a hub and the newer-type wiring.

You should tell us what tasks you want your network to accomplish and I'm sure people will have specific recommendations. And yes, that P166 could certainly be incorporated as a useful machine in your network.


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sleddog]

What is a server -- part II http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

"Server" also refers to the software the server machine is running. For example "web server". This refers to the machine itself, and also to the server-software it is running. Two of the commonest web server-software packages are Apache (often running on a Linux-based computer) and Microsoft Internet Information Server (running on an NT4 or Windows 2000 machine). So a *computer* can be referred to as a "web-server" -- if that is it's primary task -- or we might say that a computer is "running a web-server", meaning it has web-server software active.

A single machine may be a web server, an e-mail server, an FTP server, etc. all at the same time, if it has all those particular server-software packages running. Busy companies with lots of Internet traffic will usually have "dedicated" machines. For example one computer (or 2 or 3) dedicated web servers, meaning those machines do nothing but serve web pages. Likewise there may be dedicated mail servers, etc.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sea69]

additionally, I have just installed a G6 server on my win98se system, I was surprised at the ease of set up and all of the 'BigBoy' options that are available.

You can get it (shareware) 30 day Trial here (http://www.gene6.com/) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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"Remember your 'unique'... just like everyone else!"

[ixl]

All great answers, as usual.
Note also that there is nothing magical about a PC being a "server". Any PC can be a server, if it is configured as one with the right hardware and software.
Usually a server machine is "beefier" in terms of hardware in order to support the requests it receives from other computers, and it may also have a "server" operating system on it. But it's just a PC (though non-x68 servers do exist as well, such as Alpha, AS/400, and so on.)

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Charles M. Kozierok
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...
Note: Please reply to my forum postings here on the forums. Thanks.

[Jim T]

Thank You all for replying.
The main reason for my asking is that I networked two of my PCs together. mainly to play games, (which I have not gotten around to, but that will undoubtedly be another post} and to also do light work. Anyway, when I turn on the systems a window opens to log on to the network, and then another window opens that says a domain server has not been found. Yet I can access either systems files-no problem. I have a hub and am going to add another pc to my little network. So I am thinking of making a server to .... what?? that is my question--I need simpler answers. Would a server hold my games, applications (word, AutoCAD, etc.) and is that advantageous and why. Or am I "biting off" more than I need and being frivilous and wasteful. This is a geat forum. Again Thanks!!

[Paleo Pete]

OK, the term server is a spin-off of the term File Server. That's basically what it is. It's a central file storage depository, that's about it. It can also handle the internet connection so any machine on the network can get online using its connection.


The applications you intend to use on specific machines still are installed on those machines. For instance, If you want to play Quake on a win98 machine setup as a workstation on the network, Quake has to be installed on that machine. To play network games within the network, the game must be installed on each machine used for network play.

The server simply acts as a "master" computer, so to speak, and usually is set up with plenty hard drive space for file storage, which is its main purpose. That way any documents created can be stored in a folder on the server, and any backups made of those documents can be made on the server instead of a half dozen backups on separate machines.

Whether you actually need a server depends on your purpose for the network. If you only want a simple home network for internet, games and word processing/graphics use, usually a server is overkill. If you're more concerned with business applications, with several employees creating documents and spreadsheets on a fairly regular basis, and you want a fairly secure machine to store them on, then a good NT server might be worth looking into.

If you're going for MSCE certification, it's a moot point, a full fledged network is almost required.




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[Jim T]

Alright, then I don't need a server. I am not going to store many files, and with the size of modern HDs, a server is overkill.
Thanks Paleo Pete. I'm learnin' and after you taking the time to put it simply, I understand the previous posts. Thanks.

[kenja]

[Quote:] "...and then another window opens that says a domain server has not been found." Ah, so that's the source of your question http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif . I think I can show you how to prevent this message from appearing.

Assuming you've got Win9x: Double click on "Network" in the Control Panel. On the "Configuration" tab, highlight "Client for Microsoft Networks". Click the "Properties" button. Under "Logon validation", clear the checkmark from the box in front of "Log on to Windows NT domain".

You want be in a Workgroup (where every computer is a peer), not in a Domain.

[This message has been edited by kenja (edited 03-12-2001).]

[sleddog]

Pete, et al.: Not to muddy the waters, but there *are* application servers -- machines which have software programs installed on them which are run from attached workstations. We had a network setup like this initially in the office where I work. Software like WordPerfect was installed on the server. You could sit at one of several workstations and run it. As well, prior to the availability of dial-up Internet access here, I had a work account which let me dial into a remote server attached to an Internet gateway and run a remote copy of Netscape to access the Internet. If I recall it was Netscape 0.9 and yes, running it remotely over a 19200 bps connection was sloooowwww http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Sun Microsystems are developing new high-speed Internet application servers that require only minimal software on the user end. Though I don't expect it here in my lifetime http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Jim T]

Yes, Kenja, thanks.
I was wondering about that.

[Paleo Pete]

sleddogg: I thought that was possible, but wasn't positive. I know that's how it's done with "dumb terminals", but I would think setting it up for the average home user would be a major headache...thanks for the info, I wasn't absolutely sure about it.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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