Hi Wayne.!
OK - in its most simple form - a "server" is computer on steroids... And it's only purpose in life is to serve up information to the "network" (users) with a high degree of availability..
To meet that requirement - this "server" has several redundant sub-systems, like dual network cards, hard disk drives that are "mirrored", redundant power supplies - etc. So - for example - let's talk about the hard disk drives for a second. Imagine one of the drives fails - there is a "mirrored copy" of that drive that can take over immediately - and the failed drive can be replaced while the system is "on and running". In fact - I'm re-syncing the drives in this server as you were posting your note and I'm typing this - and it will continue into the early morning hours...
As well - for all that - a "server" is built to a higher standard - as it's on and "alive" 24/7/365 - so the components have a greater "Mean Time Between Failure" (MTBF).
OK - so that's what a server is... It's a system dedicated in software, applications, etc... For that, I use this server to host two forums (this one and another dedicated collector community) - and I have two more "servers" hosting other websites I own/program... So - the PGCA has requested that I dedicate a single server to the PGCA specifically...
Anyway - there are other network services I host and run that require their own dedicated servers in addition to "websites" or forums, or... - such as my two mail servers, DNS, etc... This "server" requires the services of "those servers" to deliver up the PGCA site and forum - which appears as a "single site", but in fact, requires all the servers to play together in a seamless fashion...
Best to you!
John D.
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