Windows Vista Update

Basically, a server is a technology solution that "serves" files, data, print, fax resources, and more to multiple computers. Server solutions, such as Windows Server 2008, also enable you to manage user accounts and passwords, grant or restrict access to shared resources, automatically back up your data, and access business information remotely.

The word "server" often refers to the specialized computer (or hardware) that the server software runs on. The server is optimized to perform services for other computers or “clients.” Clients can be computers as well as printers, faxes, or other devices that connect to the server.

Together, a server and its clients compose a client/server network.

A client/server network provides routing systems and centralized access to information and resources, stored data, and much more.

With a server, you can share files and resources, such as fax machines and printers, in a more secure manner. For example, with a server network, employees can access the Internet or company e-mail at the same time.

Other definitions for a server include:

In information technology, a server is an application or device that performs services for connected clients as part of a client-server architecture. A server application, as defined by RFC 2616 (HTTP/1.1), is "an application program that accepts connections in order to service requests by sending back responses." Server computers are devices designed to run such an application or applications, often for extended periods of time with minimal human direction. Examples of servers include web servers, e-mail servers, and file servers.

or

Server is an adjective in the term server operating system. A server operating system is intended, enabled, or better able to run server applications. The differences between the server version and the "workstation" version of an operating system vary. Sometimes (as in the case of Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server), the primary difference is the removal of arbitrary license-dependent limits on the number of network file share connections accepted. Some server editions include additional server applications bundled with the operating system. Some server applications (e.g. Microsoft IIS) impose arbitrary limits on the number of HTTP connections they will accept, depending on whether they are running under a server operating system or not.