Web Design & Development

[ Web Design & Development Topics ]

Web Servers and Services

Web Servers

A Web server is a computer that delivers (serves up) Web pages. Any computer can be turned into a Web server by installing server software and connecting the machine to the Internet.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Users browser initiates a connection to the Web server that is storing the files by converting the domain name into an IP address and then locating the server that is storing the information for that IP address.
2. The browser then requests the data from the Web server, and using HTTP, the server delivers the data back to your browser.
3. The browser converts the files computer languages into what you see displayed in your browser.

Server Basics

A server centrally manages resources that are used by multiple users in a network. Servers are usually dedicated, although any machine could be a server. Here are some general suggestions though on what to use for a server hardware-wise:

Speed - A server uses a faster processor or processors than an average desktop computer. Your server should have a Pentium III chip or higher. Also, you want to get a large cache (512K or higher)

Memory - Servers have large amount of RAM with room to grow. Start off with 256 megabytes or more.

Hard drive - Your hard drive should be 9 gigabytes or greater with 10,000 revolutions per minute (RPM) or higher access speed.

Power and cooling - Often servers come with a special cooling system since the hard drives are constantly running and often also have software that monitors the coolness.

Redundancy - you will want to ensure you have an adequate backup system in place. This may include a RAID array where the data is spanned over many disks so if you lose one hard drive another can immediately take its place.

Some Server Applications

(taken from http://www.serverwatch.com/stypes/compare/)

Web Services

Web Services commonly refer to using Hosted Web Sites. With hosted Web sites you are using space on someone elses server and make payments for using the space and services offered on that server. Perhaps the most common use is having a hosted Web site where an outside company supplies you space on their Web servers for a charge. Another common use of Web Services is having an outside company handle monetary transactions.

Transferring Files to your Web Server

Now you need a method to get files onto your Web Server. This requires the use of File Transfer Protocol otherwise known as FTP. Basically FTP copies files from your local machine to another machine.

Some common FTP programs include:

• WS_FTP (LE which is free or Pro)
• CuteFTP

Although you can use your Web browser to transfer files in some cases using ftp:// in the URL string, this is more restrictive and is not permitted by some Web servers.