Cloud-based modern servers and upgraded data centers are the most attractive physical machines across the technological advancements engineered in today’s millennia. Technically speaking, thesesuper computers represent the lifeblood of the network. These high-powered and hybrid computers can process shared resources and operations within a specified network such as the database, encryption, security, web services, file storage, and more.
Servers are basically the powerhouse of the network that processes the client’s request up to the valuable response. These machines can also be used to process and support the programs and devices as well. There were also abundant of its types that function for various purposes and multi-tasks different requests. To optimize the servers, each platform should be installed with a particular operating system and software to efficiently control the processes and compatible with the servers.
Understanding the Components and Functions
Basically, there are four root points to consider in a server request and respond interaction. However, you should be familiar with the HTTP, APP server, and Database server to understand the principles behind the step-by-step processes of these components. Let’s define first each component of the system.
1. Getting to Know the HTTP
As we all know, HTTP stands for the ‘Hypertext Transfer Protocol” in the technical parlance. It is the implementation of the series of instructions that specifies the requests and responses from the HTTP server. This component is typically run via HTTP Client (browsers) namely Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and the like.
In each time that you open and search through the HTTP Client, the browser will be connected to the HTTP to interpret the requests and provide the responses to answer these requests.
2. Let’s Talk about the APP
Application servers are comprehensive components of the system that facilitates the development of the web applications and create the environment to operate the apps. Running web apps through the cloud-based platforms is very dynamic, systematic, and diverse.
Most developers run app servers to implement an efficient discharged of hybrid tasks such as load-balancing, clustering, fail-over, and more. It also serves as the extended virtual machine that supports the HTTP and web applications to operate in a secure and optimize environment. To name a few examples of the APP servers, here are some of the following:
IBM WebSphere
Oracle Web Logic
Wild Fly
Apache Tomcat
GNU Glassfish
Payara
Adobe ColdFusion
3. Gearing Towards the Database
On the other hand, the database servers act as the managing system to keep and maintain database apps, services, access, and cloud-based files across multi-servers. Database servers are typically run using query languages and convert every submitted query to a readable-form. Thereafter, it will execute the query then retrieve the results.
Interestingly, the database servers used query language structures and logic to systematically function based on the requests. There are several popular database servers namely Informix, Oracle, MySQL, GNU, Ingres, DB2, and more.
How does it work?
To know the behind-the-scenes processes of the server, let’s start at the browser. When the individual searched using the HTTP client tool, it will request the information through the HTTP. Thereafter, the HTTP server will interpret the request whether the individual asks for a file, web content, or a graphic.
If the requests need the help of the APP, the HTTP will direct the query to the former. Thereafter, the latter will interpret it again and execute the requests. If there’s a need to edit, save, or delete the data, the database server will gather and execute the requests until it will send it back to the browser as a response.
A uniform resource location is popularly known as the URL. It is a very specific detailed address which is translated to an IP address and directs the server where to find the site location. This is an important component of the process because it helps the server to locate the page or website. Usually, a URL is consisting of some components including the following:
Protocol – this refers to the HTTP://
Subdomain – it denotes the ‘www’
Domain – this refers to the site’s address
Top-level domain – it denotes the ‘.com’
Subdirectory location – this is preceded by the symbol / after the word .com
Folder Path – this is usually after the subdirectory location
Page – it denotes the location of the website page
File type – this is the last word of the URL (ex: .html)
This basic URL address brings the network into life because it directs the server where to locate the request and execute the processes to obtain the necessary results. Furthermore, servers are the central core and enterprise parts of the networks in most businesses because these machines can interconnect and integrate the hardware, external computer devices, and file sharing network across the units and departments.
