What Is A Server Flashcards
What is a server?
A server is a computer or program that provides services to other computers and programs, called clients, over a network.
What is a well-known example of a server?
A web server, where the client (web browser) requests a page and the server provides the page to the browser.
What is a client in the context of client-server architecture?
A client is a machine or program that depends on a server for some resource or service and sends a request to the server for that resource or service.
How does a client interact with a server over a network?
The client sends a request to the server, and the server responds by providing the requested resource or service, regardless of their physical locations.
How do servers work in general?
Servers work by sharing data, resources, and distributing work among client machines in a request-response manner.
How does a web server respond to a URL request from a client?
The server receives the URL request from the client, checks its validity, and if valid, sends the requested web page back to the client’s browser.
What are the four main components of a URL?
Connection scheme (e.g., HTTPS), subdomain, domain name, and top-level domain.
Identify the connection scheme, subdomain, domain name, and top-level domain in the URL https://www.codecademy.com.
Connection scheme: https, Subdomain: www, Domain name: codecademy, Top-level domain: com.
What is the purpose of the operating system (OS) in a server?
The OS manages the server’s resources and services, allowing it to efficiently provide services to clients.
Name three commonly used server operating systems.
Windows, UNIX, and Linux.
What is a key feature of the Windows server operating system?
Windows allows users to store files, play videos and music, supports multitasking, graphical user interface, and virtual memory management.
What makes UNIX a popular server operating system?
UNIX is a multi-user operating system widely used in client-server environments, especially for providing services on the internet.
Why is Linux often chosen for servers?
Linux is open-source, multi-user, multi-process, offers good real-time performance, and provides low-cost, secure service delivery.
What is a file server?
A file server stores data files for multiple users, allowing faster retrieval and saving of data, and provides a central location for storage where multiple users can work with the same documents.
What is the purpose of a database server?
A database server allows other computers to access a database and retrieve or upload data, typically featuring large storage capacity.
What does a web server do?
A web server delivers web pages requested by multiple client web browsers.
What is a mail server’s role?
A mail server stores and delivers emails for clients through an email service platform, acting as a digital ‘post office’ that sorts and stores emails.
What is an application server?
An application server provides a software environment with all needed requirements, allowing users to access applications without downloading additional software.
How does a proxy server function?
A proxy server communicates with websites on behalf of the user, sending the user’s requests to the website and relaying the website’s response back to the user.
What happens when a client uses a URL to connect to a server across the internet?
The browser communicates with the ISP, which contacts the domain name server to get the IP address. The browser then connects to the server using this IP address and requests the necessary files.
What role does the domain name server (DNS) play in connecting to a server?
The DNS converts a domain name into an IP address, allowing the client’s browser to connect to the correct server.
What is the process after a browser connects to the server at the correct IP address?
The server sends all the requested HTML text for the web page back to the browser, fulfilling the client’s request.
What is the primary purpose of servers in a network?
Servers are used to provide services to other computers (clients), managing particular resources on the network.
What distinguishes different types of servers?
Different types of servers provide different types of services, such as file storage, email delivery, web page serving, application hosting, and database management.
