A Guide to Servers: Their Usage, History, and Evolution
Sanjay K Mohindroo.
Chief Information Officer | Global IT Leader | Digital Transformation & Innovation Strategist
Servers have become an essential part of modern technology. They are used for a wide range of purposes, including data storage, communication, and cloud computing. In this blog, we will explore the history of servers, their evolution, and their importance in the digital age.
History of Servers:
Servers have been around since the early days of computing. In the 1960s, mainframe computers were used as servers to store and process data. These early servers were large and expensive, and only large corporations and government agencies could afford to use them.
As technology evolved, servers became smaller and more affordable. In the 1980s, personal computers became popular, and companies began using them as servers for local networks. In the 1990s, the internet became widely available, and servers were used to host websites and provide email services.
Evolution of Servers:
As technology continued to evolve, servers became more powerful and versatile. Today, servers are used for a wide range of purposes, including data storage, communication, cloud computing, and virtualization.
Cloud computing has become particularly popular in recent years. With cloud computing, servers are used to store and process data in remote locations, allowing users to access their data from anywhere in the world. This has led to a shift away from traditional on-premises servers to cloud-based servers.
Usage of Servers:
Servers are used for a wide range of purposes, including:
1.????Data Storage: Servers are used to store data, including documents, images, and videos. They provide a centralized location for data storage, making it easy for users to access their data from anywhere.
2.????Communication: Servers are used to provide email, chat, and other communication services. They allow users to communicate with each other in real-time, no matter where they are located.
3.????Cloud Computing: Servers are used to provide cloud computing services, including infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). These services allow users to access computing resources on demand, without having to invest in their own hardware.
4.????Virtualization: Servers are used to provide virtualization services, allowing multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. This can help organizations save money on hardware costs and reduce their environmental footprint.
Servers have come a long way since their early days as mainframe computers. Today, they are an essential part of modern technology, used for a wide range of purposes. With cloud computing and virtualization, servers are more powerful and versatile than ever before. As technology continues to evolve, servers will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in the digital age.
Servers can be broadly categorized into different types based on their function, hardware specifications, and intended usage. Here are some of the most common types of servers and a brief explanation of each:
1.????Web servers: These servers are designed to host websites and web applications. They typically run specialized software like Apache or Nginx that can handle HTTP requests and serve static and dynamic content to web clients.
2.????Database servers: These servers are optimized for storing, managing, and retrieving data from databases. They typically run database management systems (DBMS) like MySQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server.
3.????Application servers: These servers provide a runtime environment for running applications. They can run on a variety of platforms and languages like Java, .NET, or Python.
4.????Mail servers: These servers are used to handle email traffic, storing and forwarding messages between mail clients and other mail servers. They typically run specialized software like Postfix or Sendmail.
5.????File servers: These servers are used to store and manage files and provide access to them over a network. They may use a variety of protocols like SMB, NFS, or FTP to allow clients to access shared files.
6.????Print servers: These servers are used to manage printing services on a network. They typically run specialized software that can handle multiple print requests from different clients and manage print queues.
7.????DNS servers: These servers are used to resolve domain names into IP addresses. They typically run a DNS server software like BIND or Windows DNS Server.
8.????Proxy servers: These servers act as intermediaries between clients and other servers on a network. They can be used for caching content, filtering requests, or enhancing security.
There are many other types of servers as well, but these are some of the most common. Each type of server has its own hardware and software requirements, as well as specific configuration and management considerations.
Servers typically use processors that are designed for high performance and high reliability, as they are expected to handle heavy workloads and operate continuously. Here are some of the most common types of processors used in servers:
Each type of processor has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of a processor depends on the specific requirements of the server workload. Factors like performance, power efficiency, scalability, and compatibility with software applications all need to be considered when selecting a processor for a server.
The processors used in servers can vary depending on the specific model and configuration. However, here is a general overview of the types of processors used by the server manufacturers mentioned earlier:
In terms of operating systems, the servers listed here can typically run a wide range of operating systems. Common operating systems include:
However, the specific operating systems supported by a server will depend on its hardware and firmware, as well as the drivers and software available for that particular platform.
Here is a list of some proprietary operating systems and the servers that run these operating systems:
Here's a list of some popular proprietary operating systems and the servers that run them:
1.????Microsoft Windows Server: This operating system is developed by Microsoft and is designed for server use. It is used by many organizations for various purposes, including web servers, database servers, and application servers.
2.????IBM AIX: AIX is a proprietary operating system developed by IBM for use on their servers. It is commonly used in enterprise environments and is known for its reliability and scalability.
3.????Oracle Solaris: Solaris is a Unix-based proprietary operating system developed by Oracle. It is commonly used for mission-critical applications and database servers.
4.????HP-UX: HP-UX is a proprietary Unix-based operating system developed by Hewlett Packard (now HP Enterprise). It is commonly used in enterprise environments and is known for its scalability and reliability.
5.????Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a proprietary Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat. It is commonly used for server use and is known for its stability and security.
6.????SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is a proprietary Linux-based operating system developed by SUSE. It is commonly used for server use and is known for its stability and security.
7.????IBM z/OS: This is a proprietary operating system developed by IBM for their mainframe computers.
8.????IBM i: This is another proprietary operating system developed by IBM for their midrange computers.
9.????VMS: VMS (Virtual Memory System) is a proprietary operating system developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) for their VAX and Alpha server systems.
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10.?OpenVMS: OpenVMS is a successor to VMS, also developed by DEC, which was later acquired by HP.
11.?OS/400: This is a proprietary operating system developed by IBM for their AS/400 and iSeries computers.
12.?Solaris: Solaris is a proprietary operating system developed by Sun Microsystems, which was later acquired by Oracle Corporation. It is used on their SPARC-based servers.
13.?AIX: AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive) is a proprietary operating system developed by IBM for their Power Systems servers.
14.?HP-UX: HP-UX (Hewlett Packard-Unix) is a proprietary operating system developed by Hewlett-Packard (now Hewlett Packard Enterprise) for their HP 9000 and Integrity server systems.
These are just a few examples, and there are many other proprietary operating systems and servers available on the market.
Some examples of servers that run these operating systems are:
Here is a list of servers that run some of the operating systems I mentioned in my previous answer:
Here is a list of some of the top IT server manufacturing companies and a brief overview of their product lines:
This is not an exhaustive list, and many other companies manufacture servers. The products offered by these companies may vary based on the specific needs of the customer.
Here is a brief description of the server products offered by each of the companies mentioned:
All of the servers mentioned are still in production today, although some of them may have newer and more advanced models available.
For example, IBM zSeries mainframes have continued to evolve with new models and capabilities, and IBM iSeries servers have been rebranded as IBM Power Systems running IBM i.
DEC VAX and Alpha servers are no longer being produced, but OpenVMS continues to be supported and is used by some organizations for mission-critical applications.
Sun SPARC-based servers are still in production, with Oracle continuing to develop and support Solaris as well as their SPARC hardware platform.
IBM Power Systems servers are also still in production, with newer models available that offer improved performance and capabilities.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise continues to support HP-UX, although they have shifted their focus towards their newer Linux-based operating system, called HPE OpenVMS.
Fujitsu is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company that offers a wide range of server products for various applications. Here are some of the server models offered by Fujitsu, along with the operating systems that are typically run on them:
Note that Fujitsu offers many other server and storage products, and the specific operating system that can run on them may vary depending on the model and configuration.
BS2000/OSD is a proprietary operating system developed by Fujitsu for its mainframe-class BS2000 servers. The acronym "OSD" stands for "Operating System Division" and represents the division within Fujitsu that is responsible for developing and maintaining the operating system.
BS2000/OSD is designed for high reliability, availability, and scalability, and can support large-scale, mission-critical applications. It includes features such as virtualization, workload management, and fault tolerance to ensure that applications can run continuously and reliably even in the face of hardware failures.
The operating system is designed to support multiple programming languages, including COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, and C/C++, as well as various database systems such as Oracle, IBM DB2, and SAP HANA. It also includes built-in security features such as access control, authentication, and encryption to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
BS2000/OSD can be customized and configured to meet the specific requirements of a given application or workload and can run multiple instances of the operating system on a single physical server. This allows for efficient use of resources and can help to reduce costs and complexity in large-scale computing environments.
Servers typically use processors that are designed for high performance and high reliability, as they are expected to handle heavy workloads and operate continuously. Here are some of the most common types of processors used in servers:
Each type of processor has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of a processor depends on the specific requirements of the server workload. Factors like performance, power efficiency, scalability, and compatibility with software applications all need to be considered when selecting a processor for a server.
SISC (Single Instruction Set Computer) and RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) are two different types of processor architectures.
SISC processors are designed to handle a wide range of instructions and operations, making them more flexible but also more complex. They can execute instructions that perform a variety of tasks, which allows them to run a wide range of software applications. However, the complexity of SISC processors can make them slower and less efficient when executing certain types of instructions, which can limit their performance for specific workloads.
RISC processors, on the other hand, are designed to execute a smaller set of simple and efficient instructions. This allows them to perform specific operations quickly and efficiently, which can make them well-suited for certain types of workloads like database processing, scientific computing, and image processing. RISC processors also tend to have a simpler and more streamlined design, which can make them easier to manufacture and less expensive to produce.
Overall, the choice of processor architecture depends on the specific requirements of the server workload. Workloads that require a wide range of operations may benefit from SISC processors, while workloads that require fast and efficient execution of specific instructions may benefit from RISC processors.
Here is a list of processors in both SISC and RISC categories:
SISC processors:
RISC processors:
Note that some processors can fall into both categories, depending on how they are designed and optimized. For example, Intel Xeon processors are primarily SISC processors but have some RISC-like features and optimizations for specific workloads. Similarly, some ARM processors can support a wider range of instructions and may have more SISC-like characteristics, while others are optimized for specific tasks and have more RISC-like features.