You can break the two types of computers used for the internet. There are the users/clients and there are the servers. The internet is a massive collection of computers that have basically agreed, through specialized software, to communicate and share data together. The primary user interface software is your internet browser.
To put it simple, there is typically a client who is requesting information from another computer and that other computer is the “server” which is holding the information. The server will simply take the request and send back a set of code that the client’s web browser reads and the web browser will take the information from the server and paste it onto the users/clients computer screen.
There is a vast amount of technical information that one may or may not know when it comes to the data sharing but the easiest way to understand the internet is to look at it as if a computer acts like a telephone and with your computer you are calling someone to get the necessary information. That person tells you the information; a server then sends it to you via a computer and some software.
Does a server look like my laptop?
A server could be a laptop but generally speaking it is not a laptop that is hosting the information, or site, that you are requesting. In many cases it could be a large cabinet looking device holding vast amount of storage space that is storing untold numbers of sites owned and maintained by various people. In some cases it could be a server on the other side of the world.
Given the vastness and power of the internet network it has made the planet “flat” again and brought the possibility of a single free market to a reality. Your computer will take the web address you type into your browser and turn it into what is called an IP address, somewhat like a phone number.
It then takes that number and takes it through a large international network that utilizes satellites, tracking down the computer/server that is hosting or holding the information and it will then tell the server to send the information to your computer screen back on the other side of the world.
People are connecting in many different ways from all around the world utilizing the internet; all the information needs to be stored on a computer and those computers are essentially the servers.
How does the server know what to send?
Your IP address and the IP address of the site or information you are requesting is the two critical elements to finding information on the internet. An IP address is simply a modern phone number or id for your site.
With your computer and another server you can call up the information and the server will know to go exactly to that file and will return the file to you. It’s a vast network with lots of technical information.
If you are really interested in learning more it might be wise to sign up for a class and really learn the technical side of the internet. You might also want to check out the following video of what a Google’s web data server facility looks like from the inside.
This article was written by Chris Reynolds from the webhosting review site the WHS. Chris has a general passion for the technological part of the internet and enjoys working with people on projects involving anything from Apache to building websites in PHP.
Hope you find the information about Web servers useful. Let us know what you think in comments below. Feel free to add any other information you may have regarding the same.
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#KnowLiz : Web Server Technology explained – How two computers talk on the internet?: You can break th.. http://bit.ly/Sbk8p
Web Server Technology explained – How two computers talk on the internet? http://bit.ly/4aIo8P #knowliz Plz RT
What an interesting tutorial! I've seen others online but none explained how servers work or look as good as you did. Kudos!
Sandra @ VPS Servers
Interesting article you have here.There are so many things you can do with computers, the only condition is knowing how to do it after that everything comes very easy.
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used test equipment
interesting tutorial on servers. thanks for putting it up here.