Compute

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In IT, servers provide the computing power behind applications, websites, and databases. This article breaks down the server concept, focusing on its role as a compute resource, from physical machines to serverless functions.

The Purpose of a Server

A server is a compute resource designed to process requests and deliver services to other devices, called clients, over a network. Traditionally, servers were physical machines, but now they include virtual machines, containers, and serverless functions. Despite these variations, the primary role remains the same: process workloads and deliver services.

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Servers are designed to fulfill specific roles that cater to the needs of businesses and applications. These roles provide a range of services. Here’s a brief overview of the most common server roles. At the end we make a deeper dive into Web Servers, Application Servers, Reverse Proxies and Bastion Hosts.

Overview of Common Server Roles

Web Server
A web server hosts and serves web pages or applications over the internet or intranet. It processes incoming requests from clients (such as web browsers) and responds with the requested content. Popular web servers include Apache HTTP Server, Nginx, and Microsoft IIS.

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Physical servers are built to handle extensive workloads, host applications, store data and much more. Understanding the components within a server is essential for planning, troubleshooting, and management. This article breaks down the internal parts of a physical server and their function.

Core Components of a Physical Server

Every part of a physical server works in tandem to deliver reliable performance. The CPU processes tasks while RAM temporarily holds data to speed up operations. Storage holds persistent data, while the motherboard acts as a communication hub. The PSU ensures consistent power, cooling systems maintain optimal temperatures, and NICs manage network traffic. Expansion slots add versatility for specialized needs.

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Virtual servers offer flexibility and scalability beyond the physical limits of hardware. While physical servers house tangible components like CPUs and RAM, virtual servers present a different structure. It’s essential to understand the components inside a virtual server and how they contrast with physical servers. This article dives into what makes up a virtual server. We will also correlate these to the components seen in Azure Virtual Machines (VMs).

Server Roles

• Servers often carry out a specific task tailored to business and application needs. This is commonly known as the server role

Key Server Roles

• Web Server: Serves web pages or applications to clients.
• Application Server: Manages and runs business logic for apps.
• Proxy Server: Intermediary enhancing security and performance.
• Bastion Host: Secure access point for internal network management.
• Database Server: Stores and manages structured data.
• File Server: Centralized file storage and sharing.
• DHCP Server, Mail Server, DNS Server, Print Server, FTP/SFTP Server, Domain Controller, Media Server, etc

Web Server

• Processes HTTP/HTTPS requests and delivers web content.
• Handles static (e.g., HTML) and dynamic (e.g., server-side) content.
• Examples:
  • Apache
  • Nginx
  • Microsoft IIS.

Application Server

• Executes business logic and integrates backend services.
• Ideal for multi-tier architectures and complex transactions.
• Examples:
  • Apache Tomcat
  • JBoss
  • Microsoft IIS.

Proxy Server

• Forward Proxy: Masks clients and handles outbound requests.
• Reverse Proxy: Directs inbound traffic to backend servers for load balancing and security.
• Examples:
  • Squid
  • HAProxy
  • Nginx

Bastion Host

• Provides secure access to private networks from external sources like the Internet
• Acts as a gateway for remote administration.
• Examples:
  • AWS Bastion Host
  • Azure Bastion
  • Fail2Ban

Summary

• Web Server: For serving web content.
• Application Server: For running business applications.
• Proxy Server: For added security and traffic management.
• Bastion Host: For secure access to remote administration.

Inside a Physical Server

• Physical servers are engineered for reliability and heavy workloads.
• Components work together to host applications, store data, and process tasks.

Core Components

• CPU: Executes instructions and manages tasks.
• RAM: Temporary storage for active processes and data.
• Storage Drives: Persistent data storage.
• Motherboard: Central communication hub.
• PSU: Converts power for server use.
• Cooling Systems: Maintains optimal temperatures.
• NICs: Handles network connectivity.
• Expansion Slots: Adds versatility for specialized components.

CPU

• The “brain” of the server.
• Multicore processors for parallel task handling.
• Examples: Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC.

RAM

• Temporarily holds active data for faster processing.
• Affects server speed and multitasking.
• Often uses ECC (Error-Correcting Code) for reliability.

Storage Drives

• Types: HDD (capacity) and SSD (speed).
• Supports RAID for redundancy and performance.
• Stores applications and persistent data.

Motherboard

• Main circuit board connecting all components.
• Includes CPU socket, RAM slots, and storage interfaces.
• Facilitates data communication.

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

• Converts power to server-compatible voltage.
• Often redundant for reliability.
• Efficiency ratings (e.g., 80 PLUS) show energy efficiency.

Cooling Systems

• Prevent overheating of components.
• Includes fans, heat sinks, or liquid cooling.
• Adjusts dynamically using built-in sensors.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

• Connects servers to networks.
• Speeds range from 1 Gbps to 40 Gbps.
• Integrated or added via expansion cards.

Expansion Slots

• PCIe slots for GPUs, additional NICs, etc.
• USB and other ports for maintenance.
• Increases server functionality.

Physical Server Design

• Built for 24/7 operation.
• Hot-Swappable Components: Replacements without downtime.
• Rack-Mountable Chassis: Fits organized server racks.
• Management Interfaces: Tools like IPMI and iLO for remote monitoring.

Inside a Virtual Server

• Virtual servers offer scalability and flexibility beyond physical hardware.
• Components emulate physical resources but are managed by a hypervisor.

Core Components of a Virtual Server

• vCPU: Shares the host’s physical CPU resources.
• Virtual RAM: Allocated memory from the host’s physical RAM.
• Virtual Storage: Virtual disks appear as independent drives.
• vNIC: Connects the virtual server to networks.
• Hypervisor: Software enabling resource virtualization.

Virtual CPUs (vCPUs)

• Emulates a physical CPU, sharing resources with other VMs.
• Managed by the hypervisor to ensure efficient task execution.

Virtual RAM

• Allocated portion of the physical server’s memory.
• Provides isolated and reliable memory for VMs.

Virtual Storage

• Virtual disks stored as files on the host’s physical drives.

Virtual Network Interface (vNIC)

• Provides network connectivity to the VM.
• Managed to ensure secure and isolated communication.

Hypervisor

• Manages the virtualization of hardware resources.
• Type 1: Runs directly on physical hardware.
• Type 2: Runs on top of an operating system.

Differences: Physical vs. Virtual Servers

• Resource Sharing: Physical servers dedicate resources; virtual servers share them.
• Scalability: Virtual servers can scale resources dynamically.
• Cost: Virtual servers lower costs with shared infrastructure.
• Management: Virtual servers simplify management by outsourcing to cloud providers.

Components in Azure VMs

(Examples)

Inuti en fysisk server

• Fysiska servrar är utformade för tillförlitlighet

Kärnkomponenter

• CPU: Utför instruktioner och hanterar uppgifter.
• RAM: Tillfällig lagring för aktiva processer och data.
• Lagringsenheter: Permanent datalagring.
• Moderkort: Central kommunikationshub som förbinder de övriga komponenterna
• PSU: Omvandlar ström.
• Kylsystem: Upprätthåller optimala temperaturer.
• NICs: Hanterar nätverksanslutning.
• Expansionsplatser: Ger möjlighet att ansluta fler komponenter.

CPU

• Serverns “hjärna”.
• Flerkärniga processorer hanterar parallella uppgifter.
• Exempel: Intel Xeon, AMD EPYC.

RAM

• Lagrar temporärt data för snabbare bearbetning.
• Påverkar serverns hastighet och multitasking.
• Använder ofta ECC (Error-Correcting Code) för tillförlitlighet.

Lagringsenheter

• Typer: HDD (kapacitet) och SSD (hastighet).
• Stöder RAID för redundans och prestanda.
• Lagrar permanent data.

Moderkort

• Huvudkretskortet som ansluter alla komponenter.
• Innehåller CPU-sockel, RAM-platser och lagringsgränssnitt.

Strömförsörjning (PSU)

• Omvandlar ström till serverkompatibel spänning.
• Ofta redundant för tillförlitlighet.
• Effektivitetsbetyg (t.ex. 80 PLUS) visar energieffektivitet.

Kylsystem

• Förhindrar överhettning av komponenter.
• Inkluderar fläktar, kylflänsar eller vätskekylning.
• Justerar dynamiskt med inbyggda sensorer.

Nätverkskort (NIC)

• Ansluter servrar till nätverk.
• Hastigheter från 1 Gbps till 40 Gbps.
• Integrerade eller tillagda via expansionskort.

Expansionsplatser

• PCIe-platser för GPU:er, ytterligare nätverkskort, etc.
• USB och andra portar för underhåll.
• Ökar serverns funktionalitet.

Fysisk serverdesign

• Byggd för drift dygnet runt.
• Hot-Swappable-komponenter: Byte utan driftstopp.
• Rackmonterat chassi: Passar serverrack.
• Hanteringsgränssnitt: Verktyg som IPMI och iLO för fjärrövervakning.

Inuti en virtuell server

• Virtuella servrar erbjuder skalbarhet och flexibilitet bortom fysisk hårdvara.
• Komponenterna emulerar fysiska resurser men hanteras av en hypervisor.

Kärnkomponenter i en virtuell server

• vCPU: Delar värdserverns fysiska CPU-resurser.
• Virtuellt RAM: Tilldelat minne från värdserverns fysiska RAM.
• Virtuellt lagringsutrymme: Virtuella diskar som fungerar som oberoende enheter.
• vNIC: Ansluter den virtuella servern till nätverk.
• Hypervisor: Programvara som möjliggör resursvirtualisering.

Virtuella CPU:er (vCPU:er)

• Emulerar en fysisk CPU och delar resurser med andra virtuella maskiner.
• Hanteras av hypervisorn

Virtuellt RAM

• En tilldelad del av den fysiska serverns minne.

Virtuellt lagringsutrymme

• Virtuella diskar lagras som filer på värdserverns fysiska enheter.

Virtuellt nätverkskort (vNIC)

• Tillhandahåller nätverksanslutning till den virtuella servern.
• Säkerställer säker och isolerad kommunikation.

Hypervisor

• Hanterar virtualiseringen av hårdvaruresurser.
• Typ 1: Körs direkt på fysisk hårdvara.
• Typ 2: Körs ovanpå ett operativsystem.

Skillnader: Fysiska vs. virtuella servrar

• Resursdelning: Fysiska servrar dedikerar resurser; virtuella servrar delar dem.
• Skalbarhet: Virtuella servrar kan dynamiskt skala resurser.
• Kostnad: Virtuella servrar minskar kostnader genom delad infrastruktur.
• Hantering: Virtuella servrar erbjuds som tjänst (IaaS) av molnleverantörer.

Komponenter i Azure VMs

(Exempel)

Vad är en server?

• Servrar tillhandahåller datorkraften bakom applikationer, webbplatser, databaser och mycket mer.
• En server behandlar klientförfrågningar och levererar tjänster via ett nätverk.

Viktiga egenskaper

• Beräkningskraft: Utrustad med CPU, minne och lagring för att utföra olika uppgifter.
• Nätverksuppkopplad: Möjliggör kommunikation med klienter och andra tjänster.
• Tjänstebaserad: Tillhandahåller applikationer, databaser, fillagring, etc. till användare.

Typer av servrar

• Fysiska servrar
• Virtualla servrar
• Containrar
• Serverlösa funktioner (Serverless)

Fysiska servrar

(Bare-Metal)

• Dedikerad hårdvara som kör applikationer och lagrar data.
• Ger full kontroll och prestanda men kräver mer hantering.
• Exempel:
  • AWS Bare Metal Instances
  • Azure BareMetal Servers.

Virtuella servrar

(VMs)