Servers can tackle a huge variety of tasks. They’re useful in a multitude of applications, and they’re helpful for businesses around the world. Without servers, the internet as we know it would not exist. Without servers, we wouldn’t have cloud storage. Without servers we wouldn’t be able to communicate with satellites. Servers are versatile, and they’re crucial in the world of technology. Today, we’re going to dissect some of the most common uses for servers, and exemplify their utility.

Mail Servers

Utilized to transfer messages from one computer (or client) to another, mail servers are crucial for communication applications. Mail servers, or message transfer agents (MTAs) are most notably used for email messaging. These servers often send and store messages. Since servers can store emailed messages, these messages can be accessed from any computer that can tap into the server network. In certain cases, even sent mail can be stored on a server for later viewing.

Application Servers

Web applications can be created, stored, and utilized via servers. A client can access and manipulate the application through the internet or a network. Often, businesses build an application that is stored on their servers (instead of downloaded onto a client’s personal hard-drive). Access to the server and the application may be monetized for profit. Companies that utilize servers to sell applications are often deemed application service providers (or ASPs).

Database Servers

Database servers store data. Database servers are often tied into other servers. A mail server, for instance, may be attached to a database server that’s tasked with storing data for the mail server. In this way, database servers are essential for most server applications. Database servers are crucial for cloud storage applications, since they allow users and clients to access the database to tap into stored information.

Print Servers

Print servers can be useful for businesses that rely on complex printing actions. If, for instance, two branches of an individual business need to utilize cloud-stored information to print documents, they can do so through a print server. In addition, print servers can store printing information. If the print server has been tasked with printing several documents, for example, the print server can line up a queue for these documents and temporarily store document information until the queue tasks have been fulfilled.

Now, there are other servers out there in the world, including web servers, database servers, and game servers; and we’ll delve into their use in a future blog. However, it’s time for our plug: Regardless of the server you’re building, ServerWorlds is your connection to refurbished server parts. We provide lightly used server components that have been refurbished. That means that our refurbished server goods are cleaned, tested, and packaged properly to ship to your door. In addition, that means lower than market prices on all of our server parts (plus we offer free shipping to the lower 48 states)! If you’re curious about any of our individual server parts, feel free to get in touch with us. We have a variety of server parts, including components from HP, IBM, Dell, and Sun.