How many different types of servers are there? I just want to know (i'm a newbie) - i read around websites saying things about Sun, Cobalt, Compaq etc etc.

What are these, are they different servers? If so how much are they and which one in your opinion is the best?

And also, how does a data center charge you a fee for there service? Do you have to go though a company that already uses there service, are can you store your server in a data center by paying them - if so how much on average do these services cost?

If your server was to 'crash', then what steps would you take, in getting it back online? Do you just reboot, if so, do you physically go to your server and reboot, or can it be done through software?


Thanks

Anayet

Originally posted by Anayet
How many different types of servers are there? I just want to know (i'm a newbie) - i read around websites saying things about Sun, Cobalt, Compaq etc etc.

Well, Sun has now taken over the Cobalts, but otherwise there are many different manufacturers of servers. Simplisticly speaking, there is no difference, they make or put together the hardware, similar to when you go into a computer store and see the rows of computers for sale. Yes, some are made better, with better parts, etc.

Hardware is only part of the puzzle however, and the web serving software you choose is at least as important, if not more important than the hardware itself. There are a zillion distros of linux alone, then you have Win OS, Unix, even Mac, etc., etc., etc. Then there are many FTP, mail, database servers, etc., and I'll just stop here.

What are these, are they different servers? If so how much are they and which one in your opinion is the best?

Asking this is somewhat like, "Hey what kinds of cars do they make world-wide and how much are they?"

And also, how does a data center charge you a fee for there service? Do you have to go though a company that already uses there service, are can you store your server in a data center by paying them - if so how much on average do these services cost?

Again a bit too broad, but to sum up, if you have a server, you are interested in colocation services and providers charge differently (there really isn't one way, though there are more common ways I suppose).

You could go direct to the datacenter, or hook up with someone here who rents part of the datacenter (a part of a rack, a rack, or a 'cage'). I don't think anyone could tell you what the 'average price is, nor is there only one way of billing for this, so this makes finding an average a bit difficult.

If your server was to 'crash', then what steps would you take, in getting it back online? Do you just reboot, if so, do you physically go to your server and reboot, or can it be done through software?

'Crash' is a general term, could be many reasons why a server 'crashes', and rebooting might solve some problems, but it ain't gonna solve all your problems, all the time. Often the server itself doesn't crash, an individual server does. For example, if apache fails, you can still log into the server and restart apache from the command line (not that *that* always solves your problems either).

Sometimes a hard physical reboot is needed, however they even make powerstrips with the abilty to do this remotely, so you might have options, or you might have to call your provider for this.

Thanks Chicken, that was a very interesting read:)


Anayet

Chicken is God. He knows everything, that's why he's the mod of WHT! :smokin: