Working of Websevers and Different Types of Web servers

Web servers serve its clients with the requested web pages using Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP in simple terms, is the language in which the client and server communicate. This article explains how web servers actually works and also discuss different types of web servers that are available and help users choose the best suitable one for their use.

Working of web server

• User first requests for the web page by typing URL in web browser.
• The Web browser receives the URL and converts into machine readable format. The URL is converted into IP address.
• The Web browser checks if it has already the location of that IP address. If not, it sends the request to DNS server for help find the location of the IP address. DNS server then tells the browser the actual location of that IP address.
• IP address of a website is generated during the creation of website.
• Then the Web server will fetch the required web page that user wants, and sends it to the browser.
• Browser receives it and converts it into user readable format and displays it to the user.

Different types of web servers

There are three types of web servers. They differ in the performance and specifications. Costs of these three different web servers are also different. The three different web servers are

Dedicated servers

• Dedicated servers are the servers that are owned by an individual user or an organization.
• All the hardware and software resources of the server is configured by the owner according to their needs.
• All the resources are used exclusively by that individual/organization only.
• Installing, upgrading or removal of any software application is up to the owner and he can do as his wish.
• Security to the data or confidential information is high because no access to the unauthorized users.
• Dedicated servers are suitable for the large businesses with big databases.
• Dedicated servers are the most expensive servers of all three types of web servers.

Shared servers

• It is a single physical server that is shared among many users. Hence, the name "shared server".
• All the hardware resources are shared among all the users of the server.
• As many websites/users uses the same server, if at any time, any website becomes busy, then the performance of the server decreases, and it affects all the websites sharing the server.
• This is the cheapest server of all three kinds of web servers.
• Shared server is suitable for the small businesses or individuals.

Virtual private servers

• Virtual private servers are similar to servers that are shared. The difference is the restriction of number of users on the virtual private servers. It does not allow too many users.
• Other websites/users are affected if any of the users, sharing the same virtual private server uses most of the resources.
• This is suitable for small and medium sized businesses.

Understanding how web servers work and the three different types of web servers, businesses or individual users can choose the best web server suitable for them depending on the size of the business, requirements and budget.