What is a Dedicated Server?

What is a Dedicated Server?

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In terms of defining a dedicated server, the word dedicated means “to set apart or reversed for a specific use or purpose”.  The word server, within the context of computing, is defined as “a physical computer (hardware system) dedicated to running one or more services (as a host) to serve the needs of the users of the other computers on the network.
In terms of defining a dedicated server, the word dedicated means “to set apart or reversed for a specific use or purpose”.  The word server, within the context of computing, is defined as “a physical computer (hardware system) dedicated to running one or more services (as a host) to serve the needs of the users of the other computers on the network.

Thus, we can define a Dedicated Server as a single computer connected to a network that is dedicated to serving the network’s needs.  As a broad term, it refers to the exclusive configuration and use of a computer on a network.   The most common uses for a dedicated server are: web-hosting, development, staging, email/mail server, print server, data backup/remote backup, files serving, gaming, and much more.

A dedicated server can take many forms.   From hardware, operating system, web services, and internet connections, a dedicated system can be configured to meet a user’s needs.  From individual
gamers to small businesses to giant corporations, all rely on usage of a dedicated server.  Most people today rely on hosting services to provide server resources and management. 

When searching Wikipedia for “dedicated server”, you are forwarded to an article about dedicated hosting service.  It explains that “dedicated hosting service, dedicated server, or managed hosting
service is a type of Internet hosting in which the client leases an entire server not shared with anyone.”  The article then continues to explain how dedicated servers are housed in data centers and colocation facilities.   Then it lightly touches on topics such as Operating system support, bandwidth and connectivity, management, security and software.

Internet hoisting service, according to Wikipedia, is explained as “a service that runs Internet servers,
allowing organizations and individuals to server content to the Internet.”  Hosting comes in many forms: Dedicated hosting service [aka managed hosting service] in which a hosting provider owns
and manages the server and leases full control to the user.   Virtual private server is where virtualization technology is used to allow many “virtual servers” to run on a single machine.  Colocation facilities offer an internet connection, uninterrupted power and climate control, but the client does his own administration.  Cloud hosting, is provided to users by allowing allocated resources on a “cloud computer”.  Other forms of hosting include Web hosting,
Email hosting, DNS hosting, Wiki farms, and game servers.


Sources:

From Wikipedia:
Server computing