Web server

Types of Web Servers

A web server is a piece of hardware or software that handles HTTP requests. Its job is to send requested information to the web client. When thinking about a web server, many people think of the server as a physical server computer. At the same time, a web hosting service provider is a company that owns many servers and hosts websites on web servers. There are two main types of web servers: Apache and Nginx. Apache web servers are the most commonly used, accounting for 25% of websites. The next in line is Nginx, which accounts for 13% of website usage.

Both servers are open-source but have slight differences that may appeal to some businesses more than others. For example, while Apache can run on various operating systems, including Unix, Linux, Windows, and Netware, Nginx can only run on Unix-like systems. Nginx uses an event-driven architecture, which enables it to handle many requests simultaneously while utilizing less memory within the computer system. On the flip side, Apache employs a process-driven method that creates separate processes or threads for each connection, consuming more of the server's resources.

Businesses must weigh the pros and cons of each type of web server before deciding. Generally, Apache is preferable if a company runs its site on Windows. However, a business using a Unix server may benefit more from Nginx. Companies may want to consider the complexity of dynamic tasks before making a choice. While Nginx is faster at serving dynamic content, Apache can handle more complex dynamic tasks because it supports various modules. Price is another factor businesses must consider. Although both types of web servers are free, companies will have to spend more money on a support system for anything outside of self-support.

When it comes to types of web servers, it is helpful to categorize them based on the functions they perform after determining whether they are hardware or software. For example, gateway and proxy web servers function differently even though they fall under the same umbrella. A gateway web server is where client requests first arrive, while a proxy web server is both a server and a client that makes requests on behalf of another to the internet. Reverse proxy and load balancing web servers route requests to different servers to balance traffic. All these web servers have different roles, but part of their job is to optimize performance and enhance security by managing requests.

Function and feature of web server

• Communication Protocol:

  The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the primary protocol web servers use to communicate with clients. It has many different versions, including HTTP/1.1, which includes request methods like GET, POST, and PUT as well as status codes like 404 (Not Found) and 500 (Internal Server Error). HTTP/2, on the other hand, supports multiplexing and header compression to improve performance. Web servers also use HTTPS, the secure version of HTTP, which employs Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt communications and safeguard the privacy of users.

  The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is another well-known communication protocol that web servers use. FTP is frequently used to upload and download files from web servers. While FTP uses two separate TCP connections for data transfer and control, FTP.Sec and FTPS both add support for TLS/SSL to encrypt the credentials and the data being transferred.

• Server-Side Technologies

  Web servers frequently employ server-side technologies to deliver dynamic content and interactive services. Server-side scripting languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, and Node.js are commonly used to produce dynamic content by processing requests and retrieving data from databases. To create interactive web apps, use Express.js with Node.js, Django with Python, Ruby on Rails with Ruby, or Laravel with PHP.

• Web Server Features

  Web servers come with a variety of features that improve their functionality and performance. Load balancing, virtual hosting, caching, SSL/TLS support, authentication and authorization, URL rewriting, logging and monitoring, Gzip compression, support for different web sockets, and other protocols are some of the most notable features.

  Web servers direct incoming requests to different servers or server instances to distribute the load evenly among them. This ensures high availability and reliability. Servers can host multiple websites or applications using the same IP address or server resources by differentiating requests based on domain names or URLs. By temporarily storing copies of frequently accessed resources, web servers can improve response times and reduce bandwidth usage.

• Web Server Applications

  A web server is a powerful, customizable tool for serving content over the internet or intranet thanks to its wide range of functions and capabilities. Some of its most common applications include hosting websites, serving web applications, and providing APIs and microservices, among others.

Applications of a Web Server

Web server hardware is used to store, process, and deliver webpages to clients. It is a fundamental component of the global internet. However, web server applications can be used for much more than just hosting websites. Some other general applications of a server include:

• Data Storage: Servers are important for centralized data storage, especially for businesses and organizations that need to store and manage large amounts of data securely. Servers are also important for archives and backups.
• Resource Sharing: Servers enable resource sharing among client devices, such as printers, scanners, and applications, enhancing productivity and reducing costs.
• Remote Access: Web servers provide remote access to files, applications, and resources, allowing users to work from anywhere and collaborate with teams located in different regions.
• Scalability: Servers provide scalability, which allows businesses to grow and expand without changing their infrastructure. Server resources can be scaled up or down based on current requirements.
• Improved Security: Servers enable improved security and data protection through measures such as user authentication, access controls, data encryption, and regular backups.

Besides the general applications of a server, specific industries rely on web servers to carry out their day-to-day operations. Here are some industries and examples of how they use web servers:

• E-commerce: Businesses in the e-commerce industry depend heavily on web servers to serve product pages, shopping carts, and payment gateways to customers. A reliable web server is crucial so that websites can be accessible 24/7.
• Online Learning and Education: Educational institutions use web servers to host online learning platforms. When instructors and instructors upload learning materials to a web server, they can be accessed by students anytime and anywhere.
• Media Streaming: Companies in the media industry use robust media streaming web servers to host, store, and deliver high-resolution video and audio content to end users on demand.
• Healthcare: Health institutions and organizations in the healthcare industry use web servers to host secure portals. A secure web server allows patients to have access to their medical records, lab results, appointments, and even conduct telemedicine consultations with doctors.
• Social Networking: Web servers are critical for social media platforms to handle user profiles, posts, messages, and multimedia content sharing.
• Government Services: Government agencies use web servers to deliver public information, services, and applications through online portals.
• Financial Services: Institutions and organizations in the financial industry use web servers to host online banking applications, trading platforms, and payment processing systems.

How to choose web servers

Finding the most suitable server requires determining the server's purpose, platform, and operating system, among other things.

• Determine the server's purpose: Whether one needs a website server, file storage server, gaming server, or any other web server, the type of server varies according to its purpose.
• Linux versus Windows: Web servers can be found on either of the two operating systems, Linux or Windows. Choosing between the two depends upon which operating system will be preferred to manage the server. Linux web servers tend to be more common among website hosting companies, as they are cost-effective and provide reliable hosting services. On the other hand, Windows web servers are suitable for websites that support applications written in.NET framework or require access to Microsoft Server products such as SQL Server Active Directory.
• Managed versus un-managed: Managed servers offer server administration services and are helpful for businesses that want to use servers without focusing on technical tasks such as server setup or software installation. Unmanaged servers, however, do not provide these services and require technical knowledge to manage servers independently.
• Dedicated versus shared versus virtual: Dedicated servers provide exclusive resources and full control of the server, which is often the web server of choice for large businesses. Virtual servers, like shared ones, host more than one website or application on the same server, which allows them to share resources and costs.
• Storage space: Storage space is an essential factor to consider when choosing a web server, as it determines how much information can be saved in the server. This includes server applications, user accounts, files, and any other data-related content.
• Bandwidth and traffic support: Bandwidth, which refers to the amount of data transferred to and from the server, and traffic, which means the number of visitors accessing the hosted website, must be taken into account when choosing a web server. This is important, especially for websites expecting a high volume of traffic.
• Security features: Protection against data breaches is vital for any business and must be included in web servers. Features such as SSL certificates, firewalls, regular backups, and DDoS protection are essential for the security of hosted websites.

Q&A

Q1: What are the different types of web servers?

A1: The most popular (but not the only) web server software are: Apache, Nginx, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) - for Windows servers, LiteSpeed - known for its performance, Caddy - known for its automatic HTTPS, Tomcat - for Java applications.

Q2: What are the functions of a web server?

A2: A web server's main function is to serve web pages, but it can also serve other content, such as images, videos, downloads, email, or applications.

Q3: How does a web server work?

A3: When a web browser requests a page, the web server checks if it's available. If it is, the server sends back the page so the browser can see it. This all happens very fast.

Q4: What is the difference between web server and application server?

A4: A web server serves static web content stored on the server, like HTML files. In contrast, an application server web server handles dynamic content generated by running applications. An application server offers more services to business applications than a web server. Sinohb.com