Server (computing): Difference between revisions

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In computing, "server" dates at least to RFC 5 (1969),<ref name="rulifson">{{cite IETF |title=DEL |rfc=5 |last=Rulifson |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Rulifson |date=June 1969 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |access-date=30 November 2013}}</ref> one of the earliest documents describing [[ARPANET]] (the predecessor of [[Internet]]), and is contrasted with "user", distinguishing two types of [[Host (network)|host]]: "server-host" and "user-host". The use of "serving" also dates to early documents, such as RFC 4,<ref>{{cite IETF |title=Network Timetable |rfc=4 |last=Shapiro |first=Elmer B. |date=March 1969 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |access-date=30 November 2013}}</ref> contrasting "serving-host" with "using-host".

The [[Jargon File]] defines ''server'' in the common sense of a process performing service for requests, usually remote,<ref>[http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/S/server.html server]</ref> with the 1981 version reading:<ref>[{{Cite web| title=JARGON.TXT recovered from Fall 1981 RSX-11 SIG tape by Tim Shoppa | url=http://www.catb.org/jargon/oldversions/jarg110.txt] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021195648/http://www.catb.org:80/jargon/oldversions/jarg110.txt | archive-date=2004-10-21}}</ref>

{{quote |SERVER n. A kind of [[Daemon (computing)|DAEMON]] which performs a service for the requester, which often runs on a computer other than the one on which the server runs.}} The average utilization of a server in the early 2000s was 5 to 15%, but with the adoption of virtualization this figure started to increase to reduce the number of servers needed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://semiengineering.com/chip-aging-accelerates/ | title=Chip Aging Accelerates | date=14 February 2018 }}</ref>

== Operation ==

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|[[Catalog server]]

|Maintains an index or table of contents of information that can be found across a large distributed network, such as computers, users, files shared on file servers, and web apps. [[Directory server]]s and [[name server]]s are examples of catalog servers.

|Any computer program that needs to find something on the network, such as a [[Windows ___domain|Domain member]] attempting to log in, an [[email client]] looking for an email address, or a user looking for a file

|-

|[[Communications server]]

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=== Large servers ===

Large traditional single servers would need to be run for long periods without interruption. [[Availability]] would have to be very high, making hardware reliability and durability extremely important. [[Mission-critical]] enterprise servers would be very [[Fault tolerance|fault tolerant]] and use specialized hardware with low [[failure rate]]s in order to maximize [[uptime]]. [[Uninterruptible power supply|Uninterruptible power supplies]] might be incorporated to guard against power failure. Servers typically include hardware [[Redundancy (engineering)|redundancy]] such as dual [[power supply|power supplies]], [[RAID]] [[hard disk|disk]] systems, and [[ECC memory]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cs.rochester.edu/~kshen/papers/usenix2010-li.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.cs.rochester.edu/~kshen/papers/usenix2010-li.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title="A Realistic Evaluation of Memory Hardware Errors and Software System Susceptibility". Usenix Annual Tech Conference 2010|author=Li, |author2=Huang, |author3=Shen, |author4=Chu|year=2010|access-date=2017-01-30}}</ref> along with extensive [[Preboot Execution Environment|pre-boot]] memory testing and verification. Critical components might be [[hot swappable]], allowing technicians to replace them on the running server without shutting it down, and to guard against overheating, servers might have more powerful fans or use [[water cooling]]. They will often be able to be configured, powered up and down, or rebooted remotely, using [[out-of-band management]], typically based on [[Intelligent Platform Management Interface|IPMI]]. Server casings are usually [[rack unit|flat and wide]], and designed to be rack-mounted, either on [[19-inch rack]]s or on [[Open Rack]]s.

These types of servers are often housed in dedicated [[data centers]]. These will normally have very stable power and Internet and increased security. Noise is also less of a concern, but power consumption and heat output can be a serious issue. Server rooms are equipped with air conditioning devices.

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* Automation capabilities such as [[Daemon (computer software)|daemons]] in UNIX and [[Windows service|services]] in Windows

* Tight system security, with advanced user, resource, data, and memory protection.

* Advanced detection and alerting on conditions such as overheating, processor and disk failure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Server Oriented Operating System|url=http://www.ingelec.uns.edu.ar/rts/soos/|access-date=2010-05-25|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110531174040/http://www.ingelec.uns.edu.ar/rts/soos/|archive-date=31 May 2011}}</ref>

In practice, today many desktop and server operating systems share similar [[code base]]s, differing mostly in configuration.

== Energy consumption ==

In 20102024, data centers (servers, cooling, and other electrical infrastructure) consumed 415 [[Kilowatt-hour|terawatt-hours]] of electrical energy, and were responsible for roughly 1.1–1.5% of electrical energy consumption worldwide,<ref>{{Cite andweb 1.7–2.2%|last=magazine in|first=Sophia theChen, UnitedNature States.<ref>{{cite|title=Data Centers Will Use Twice as Much Energy by 2030—Driven by newsAI |url=https://www.nytimesscientificamerican.com/2011/08/01/technologyarticle/ai-will-drive-doubling-of-data-centerscenter-usingenergy-lessdemand-powerby-than2030/ |access-forecastdate=2025-report06-says.html?_r17 |website=0Scientific American |titlelanguage=Dataen}}</ref> Centersand Usingfor Less4.4% Powerin Thanthe Forecast,United ReportStates.<ref>{{Cite Saysreport |dateurl=31https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32d6m0d1 Jul|title=2024 2011United States Data Center Energy Usage Report |newspaperlast=[[NYHamm Times]]|first=Geoff |access-date=18 Jan 20132025 |firstpublisher=JohnLawrence Berkely National Laboratory |lastdoi=Markoff10.71468/p1wc7q}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=November 2023}} One estimate is that total energy consumption for information and communications technology saves more than 5 times its [[carbon footprint]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smart2020.org/_assets/files/02_Smart2020Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122051650/http://www.smart2020.org/_assets/files/02_Smart2020Report.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2010 |title=SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age |date=6 Oct 2008 |publisher=[[The Climate Group]] |access-date=18 Jan 2013 }}</ref> in the rest of the economy by increasing efficiency.

Global energy consumption is increasing due to the increasing demand of data and bandwidth. [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] (NRDC) states that data centers used 91 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) electrical energy in 2013 which accounts to 3% of global electricity usage.<ref>https://lifelinedatacenters.com/data-center/reduce-data-center-carbon-footprints/</ref>{{Update inline|date=November 2023}}

[[Environmental groups]] have placed focus on the carbon emissions of data centers as it accounts to 200 million metric tons of [[carbon dioxide]] in a year.