[Chapter 1]
File Server:
In computing, a file server is a computer attached to a network that
has the primary purpose of providing a location for the shared storage of computer
files (such as documents, sound files, photographs, movies, images, databases,
et cetera) that can be accessed by the workstations that are attached to the computer
network. The term server highlights the role of the machine in the client-server
scheme, where the clients are the workstations using the storage. A file
server is usually not performing any calculations, and does not run any
programs on behalf of the clients. It is designed primarily to enable the rapid
storage and retrieval of data where the heavy computation is provided by the
workstations.
A file server may be dedicated or non-dedicated. A dedicated server is
generally designed specifically for use as a file server, with workstations
attached for reading and writing files and databases. A workstation may share
files with other workstations on the network directly however by turning on its
"Server" service and then by creating a "Share" -- this
process creates a non-dedicated file server that is primarily being used as a
workstation.
File servers may also be categorized by the method of access: Internet file
servers are frequently accessed by File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or by HTTP (but
are different from web servers that often provide dynamic web content in
addition to static files). Servers on a LAN are usually accessed by SMB/CIFS
protocol (Windows and UNIX-like) or NFS protocol (Unix-like systems). Database
servers, that provide access to a shared database via a database device driver,
are not regarded as file servers. Most file servers are simultaneously print
servers too, as they provide access to printers via network. A single file
serving computer may be accessible by multiple means: it may run an FTP server,
an CIFS server, etc., serving the same files.
Network Application
[Chapter 1]
Print Server:
A print server, or printer
server, is a computer or device that is connected to one or more printers
and to client computers over a network, and can accept print jobs from the
computers and send the jobs to the appropriate printers.
The term can refer to:
- A host computer running Windows OS with one or more shared printers. Client computers connect using Microsoft Network Printing protocol
- A computer is running some other operating
system, but still implementing the Microsoft Network Printing protocol
(typically Samba running on a UNIX or Linux computer).
- A computer that implements the Line
Printer Daemon protocol and thus can process print requests from LPD
clients.
- A dedicated device that connects one
or more printers to a local area network (LAN). It typically has a single
LAN connector, such as an RJ-45 socket, and one or more physical ports
(e.g. serial, parallel or USB (Universal Serial Bus)) to provide
connections to printers. In essence this dedicated device provides
printing protocol conversion from what was sent by client computers to
what will be accepted by the printer. Dedicated print server devices may
support a variety of printing protocols including LPD/LPR over TCP/IP, NetWare,
NetBIOS/NetBEUI over NBF,
- A dedicated device similar to (4)
above, that also implements Microsoft Networking protocols to appear to
Windows client computers as if it were a print server defined in (1).
The term print server usually refers to (1) or (2) above, while print
server device or print server appliance usually refers to (4).
