A computer system in a network that is shared by multiple users. Servers come in all sizes from x86-based PCs to IBM mainframes. A server may have a keyboard, monitor and mouse directly attached, or one keyboard, monitor and mouse may connect to any number of servers via a switch (see KVM switch). In large companies, servers often reside in racks in the datacenter, and all access is via their network connections. See server farm and rack mounted.

Any User Machine Can Be a Server
Stand-alone PCs and Macs can also function as a server to other users on the network even though they serve as a single workstation to one user (see peer-to-peer). In such cases, only specific folders are marked for sharing rather than the entire hard drive.

It Can Also Be Software
The term "server" may refer to both the hardware and software (the entire computer system) or just the software that performs the service. For example, Web server may refer to the Web server software in a computer that also runs other applications, or, it may refer to a computer system dedicated only to the Web server application. For example, a large Web site could have several dedicated Web servers or one very large Web server.

            application server
            audio server
            database server
            fax server
            file server
            intranet server
            mail server
            merchant server
            modem server
            network access server
            print server
            proxy server
            remote access server
            telephony server
            terminal server
            video server
            Web server

See CompTIA.