What is Server Based Computing (SBC)?
Think of it like a restaurant: the complex cooking takes place in the kitchen (the server), and you simply receive the prepared food at your table (your computer). You interact with the food, but all the heavy lifting happens elsewhere.
Server based computing (SBC) is a technology whereby applications are deployed, managed, supported, and executed on servers, not clients. Instead, only screen information is transmitted between the server and client. This architecture solves many of the fundamental problems that arise when executing applications on the client. In an SBC environment, hardware and software upgrades, application deployment, technical support, and data storage and backup are simplified because only servers need to be managed. Data and applications reside on a few servers instead of hundreds or thousands of client PCs, making them terminals that can be replaced with simpler, less expensive, and most importantly, easier-to-manage devices called “thin clients.”
In this setup, your computer, often called a “thin client,” doesn’t need to be very powerful. It simply needs to be able to send your mouse clicks and keystrokes to the server and display the screen output sent by the server. This centralized approach simplifies management, increases security, and can significantly reduce costs.
How Does a Server-Based Network Work?
Essentially, SBC operates on a client-server model within a server-based network. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- The Server: It is a high-performance computer that hosts applications, data, and the user desktop environment. It handles all the processing, calculations, and data storage. So, what is a server in a computer system like this? This is the powerhouse that is doing the real work.
- The Network: It is the communication highway that connects the client to the server. What is a server in networking? It is the central hub that provides resources to other devices on the network.
- The Client Device: This is the endpoint device you use, such as a laptop, desktop, or a specialized thin client. It runs a small client program to connect to the server and act as a remote terminal.
When you launch an application, your device sends a request to the server. The server runs the application for you in a session and streams the user interface back to your screen. This creates a seamless experience that feels like the application is running locally, even though it could be miles away in a data center.
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Types of Servers and Examples
Although the concept is simple, an SBC environment can include various types of servers. Servers have diverse uses, but in an SBC, they all focus on centralizing resources.
Here are some common server examples:
- Application servers: These are dedicated to hosting specific software applications. When you open a program, you connect to an application server.
- Terminal servers: This is a traditional SBC server (such as Microsoft Remote Desktop Services). It creates multiple sessions on a single server OS, allowing multiple users to log in and work simultaneously.
- Virtualization servers: These servers host multiple virtual machines (VMs). Each VM can act as a personal desktop for a user, known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
Some of the most popular server-based computing examples in the real world include Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS). Many businesses use these platforms to provide employees with secure access to company software from any location.
Server Based Computing vs. Cloud Based Computing
People often confuse server-based and cloud-based computing. Although they are related, there’s a key difference: who owns and manages the infrastructure.
- Server based computing : This typically refers to an on-premises setup. Servers are physically located in your organization’s data center, and your IT team is responsible for their management, maintenance, and security. You have complete control as well as full responsibility.
- Cloud based computing : This involves renting computing resources (servers, storage, and software) from a third-party cloud provider, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. The provider manages the hardware, and you access it via the internet. This provides flexibility and scalability without any upfront hardware costs.
In short, SBC is the concept of centralized computing, which you can implement on your own servers (on-premises) or using a cloud provider’s infrastructure (cloud-based).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question1. What is server computing?
Answer: Server computing, another term for server-based computing, is an architecture where a central server performs all processing and hosts applications, data, and desktops. User devices (clients) are primarily used for input and display, connecting to the server via a network.
Question2. What are the four types of cloud computing?
Answer: The four main types of cloud computing are public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud deployment models. Public clouds are shared among multiple users, private clouds are dedicated to a single organization, hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds, and multi-cloud uses multiple public cloud services from different providers.
In addition to deployment models, cloud computing is also classified by service models, which are distinct from deployment types. There are four main types of cloud computing services:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides basic computing infrastructure such as virtual servers, storage, and networking (e.g., Amazon EC2).
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides developers with a platform to build, deploy, and manage applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure (e.g., Google App Engine).
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Provides ready-to-use software applications on a subscription basis over the internet (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft 365).
- Serverless Computing: Allows you to run code for individual tasks without provisioning or managing any servers (e.g., AWS Lambda).
Question3. What is an example of a server computer?
Answer: A classic example of a server computer is a physical machine like a Dell PowerEdge or HPE ProLiant rack server. These machines are designed for 24/7 operation and are equipped with powerful processors, large amounts of RAM, and fast storage. Such a server can be used as a web server to host a company’s website, an email server to manage corporate communications, or an application server running software for an entire department.