server vs desktop

[userfriendly]

Whats the difference between the 2? I know servers use a different case and processor and they cost a heck of a lot more. And thats all I know.

[DonT]

Whats the difference between the 2? I know servers use a different case and processor and they cost a heck of a lot more. And thats all I know.

From what I reckon, servers are using different hardware technologies which are more robust. Some systems have built in redundancy systems in both processors and storage.

Lastly, servers are designed to work 24/7 with MTBF factors which are higher that your off the shelf desktops.

[froshie1]

You can also look at its function.

Server - it gives out different kinds of services to the client.
Desktop - the one that connects to the server. It can also be stand alone wherein all the interface needed by the user are there.

[pakupakupaku]

add : Servers have multiple everything, Multiple HDD hot swappable(RAID), double Power Supplies hot swappable, Multiple Processors hot swappable and can accept tons on RAM to minimize it from crashing or being off line. Which makes it expensive. Although some servers have basic functions such that even a Pentium 1 or lower system would be more than enough.

[userfriendly]

You can also look at its function.

Server - it gives out different kinds of services to the client.
Desktop - the one that connects to the server. It can also be stand alone wherein all the interface needed by the user are there.

So you mean, if you configure a desktop to throw out data to other pcs, then in effect its acting as a server.

When does one need to use a high end server instead of a desktop acting like a server? I imagine its when your running mission critical programs like a huge database or a point of sale system for a big supermarket or department store. Is this correct?

Also, I heard there is such a thing called "dumb terminals". From what I gather, its a pc without a hard drive or something like it. When is this used and will you need a server to feed it data?

[artpogi]

So you mean, if you configure a desktop to throw out data to other pcs, then in effect its acting as a server.

correct!

but bear in mind that there are many types of server. one of the most popular is the one you mentioned which throws out data to clients, that is a file server.

but there are also servers which doesn't throw out data to clients, these type of servers normally host services like authentication services (NIS/LDAP server), license services (Flexlm) to name a few.

When does one need to use a high end server instead of a desktop acting like a server? I imagine its when your running mission critical programs like a huge database or a point of sale system for a big supermarket or department store. Is this correct?

many factors, like what type of data it will be serving. if it's gonna serve video and images like our server, then SCSI is your answer.

kung simpleng text data lang naman like a record/database pwede na siguro ang SATA, but, it will depend on the volume of data it will be serving and the number of client accessing the server.

Also, I heard there is such a thing called "dumb terminals". From what I gather, its a pc without a hard drive or something like it. When is this used and will you need a server to feed it data?

I don't know much about this but maybe the concept of this is the client accesses the software and data from a server. So basically the terminal is just a display, all the work are done remotely at the server.

paki korek na lang po kung mali.

[mr_incredible]

I don't know much about this but maybe the concept of this is the client accesses the software and data from a server. So basically the terminal is just a display, all the work are done remotely at the server.

paki korek na lang po kung mali.

yes, you are correct. dumb clients do not process data locally. thin clients can sometimes be used for this function.

ghosthunter mentioned server clusters a few post back. We once did this a few years back by clustering 4 low-end PCs to handle bioinformatics processing.

*userfriendly. can I just inquire on what piqued your interest in the subject of servers? any project you had in mind using servers that might be of interest to some Tsikoteers here?

[ghosthunter]

Whats the difference between the 2? I know servers use a different case and processor and they cost a heck of a lot more. And thats all I know.

Hardware-wise, servers would/might have a more robust powersupply and even redundant power supplies (one or more extra power supplies to take over the job of the primary PS if it fails). It would be using SCSI type connectors to it's hard disks to achieve certain requirements like multiple hard-drives (up to 7 per scsi), hot swap, RAID configuration, etc. A server might also have more than one processor CPU. In the time when the first Intel Pentium chip was king, I have been setting up dual Pentium servers. Since a server continuously runs a serious amount of hardware that gets hot, it must have serious amount of cooling as well.

BTW, with more modern techniques, sometimes a server isn't anymore a single powerful computer. It might be a group of simpler computers linked in a network system called a "cluster". We were doing early experiments in clustering when I left my employment to seek other opportunities.