This article lists the most common types of computer network servers.
Most common type of servers - applications run on the clients, but the data is stored centrally on the server, which also shares peripherals such as printers.
Database servers, for example - not only provide access to central data, but also provide processing services to the client, i.e. processes queries and returns the results to the client. It is the server-side processing which sets application servers apart from ordinary file and print servers, which require the client to do all the processing.
Applications may be delivered within a Local Area Network, or through Internet cloud-Computing.
Provide remote access to a network - cellular and dial-up connections, etc.
Domain Controllers and Directory servers support and maintain network structure and strong centralized security.
Often facilitated by third-party software.
Store-and-forward services accumulate ingoing messages until users access them.
Examples: Apache Tomcat, Microsoft IIS (Internet Information Server), Oracle HTTP Server, and IBM HTTP Server.
On the Internet, a proxy server sits between a web browser client, and other servers. Proxy servers carry out various functions, including filtering (or censoring), anonymizing, and providing increased security.