What is a Web Server? Types of Web Server
About Server
A server can be defined as hardware or software which accepts and respond to a request made over any network. Servers are typically used for managing various network resources. It can also be used for managing print jobs, for receiving email, for managing print jobs, and even for hosting websites. Servers are also used for intense calculations. And since servers are required to provide constant service, they are never turned off. And when a server malfunctions, it starts causing problems to the network users who are connected to that server. These days, there are multiple types of servers. And servers that host multiple websites at the same time are known as Web Servers.
About Web Servers
After the development of your website, you will need to upload your website to a particular server in order to make it go live. And each website has its distinct web address through which the users can access the website. The web address of a website consists of a combination of four numbers that starts from 0 and go up to 255. And each number in this combination is separate using a period, for instance, ‘255.255.255.0.’ Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
So, when you shall be registering your domain, you will need to specify the IP address of the hosting server which you are using for hosting your website. Now, web servers use HTTP for allowing the website to gain internet access. For dilettante, the webserver can be defined as the medium which grants accessibility to a website. And in the event the webserver is down for any reason, the website will fail to load even when you enter the right domain address.
For example, when you are accessing a website, you will enter its URL in your web browser. And, if the URL you entered is not registered with a web server, it will fail to load. And when it is connected, you can view the website just the same way you are viewing this article.
And a web server is never disconnected from the internet. It stays online 24X7. And multiple domains can be managed using a single server.
Types of Web Servers
Generally, there are four types of web servers mainly used, which are Nginx, IIS, Apache, and LiteSpeed. But apart from these four servers, there are different types of web servers too.
Apache HTTP Server
The Apache HTTP Server is one of the widely used servers which have been founded by the Apache Software Foundation. Apache is supported on all kinds of operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Unix FreeBSD, Windows, Mac OS X, and a few more. And one can easily make a modification to the Apache webserver for its modular structure. And being an open-source platform, one can easily add their own modules to the server to meet their requirement. And the Apache software is one of the most stable software, and one can easily resolve the administrative issues as well.
Internet Information Services (IIS)
The Internet Information Services (IIS) is a product from Microsoft that offers the entire feature that one would acquire from the Apache HTTP server. But, the only difference between the two servers is that in Internet Information Services (IIS webserver); one cannot add their own modules since it is not an open platform. It is supported on every platform where one can run their windows operating system. Moreover, since it is a product from Microsoft, you will get additional customer support too.
Lighttpd
Lighttpd, pronounced “lightly,” was launched in March 2003, and since then, it has been running websites. The Lighttpd Web Server is licensed under BSD. The name of the server is derived from its functionality as it doesn’t provide a load on the CPU and hardly leaves any memory footprint.
Sun Java System Web Server
Sun Java System Web Server is a multi-process and multi-threaded web server which can provide optimum performance, along with reliability, as well as scalability. Apart from this, the server also provides command-line interference along with data security. However, the webserver doesn’t support HttpServerAdmin.
Jigsaw Server
Jigsaw Web Server is yet another open-source server which has been developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It provides HTTP 1.1 implementation and, at the same time, provides other features as well, such as java architecture and more.
LiteSpeed Web Server
The LiteSpeed Web Server is a high performing replacement of Apache drop-in and is the 4th most popular web server available and is available commercially. The server is compatible with the entire list of Apache features such as mod_security, .htaaccess, and mod_rewrite. It can replace the Apache Server without any downtime.
Node.js
The Node.Js Web Server can be defined as a server-side JavaScript that is being used by mobile applications like web servers. The program was written in 2009 by Ryan Dahl. It is released under a mixture of license.
The majority of the web hosting companies opt for a web server depending on the requirement of their clients such as the amount of traffic, the software or application which shall be used and much more.