What is a LAN server ? Why is it needed? What functions does the LAN server perform in practice? How to configure it - here is a list of issues that will be addressed in the article.
What is a local server?
A local server is a device that provides its services to users of the Intranet network (do not confuse it with the Internet). So called several interconnected computers. Usually there is no Internet connection in this case.
Now imagine an office network. A local server is a device that performs a certain range of functions, unloading workers' computers from them. The main device in this case is a hub or switch. Nothing more is needed except network cards. But if there are many computers and they are at a great distance, then repeaters can also be used. And what functions are performed by the server of the local network, we will consider further.
Functional
Speaking about what functions a local network server performs, you need to know what tasks are assigned to it. Basically, auxiliary functions are transferred to them. So, the LAN server can appear in the form:
- file device;
- print server
- database storages;
- the main operating point in the terminal network, etc.
Speaking of the first three cases, it is understood that the server is used as a large device on which certain data is available. So, it can be a repository of files of an automated enterprise management system, just save the staff’s achievements and be used in this way.
The terminal network, as a rule, is used to reduce the cost of existing equipment. So, for work in such cases, employees are offered computers with a minimum configuration, the task of which is simply to connect to local servers. All the necessary actions, calculations, processing, etc., take place on them, and the data is only transferred to the user's computer, where they are displayed on the monitor and where instructions for changing them come from.
There is also a certain range of other functions. But they are so specialized that it’s very inconvenient to talk about each of them - it will take a lot of time and will be interesting only to individuals. Therefore, we omit information about them.
Thus, the question of what functions the server of the local network performs can be considered clarified. Now let's talk about how to prepare it for work.
Configure the LAN server
There are many software products to achieve this. Therefore, to concretize the information, consider an example of work on Denver. Its basic package contains all the necessary tools, which means that setting up a LAN server will be simple.
To do this, you need to download the software (you can use the official website, since all this is free). When installing, specify the directory for placing files. We create a virtual disk on the computer that will always work when the computer is turned on. Next, you need to configure it to work on a specific port (select above 1024), and indicate to other computers where to connect.
And now let's talk how to make a proxy server of a local network out of it. To do this, you must have a static ip-address for constant stable operation. Then you should turn off the Windows firewall (but you must understand that this will lower the level of security, which will need to be compensated using specialized software). Then we create the following directive: / home / "Your ip" / www. There you need to put a file that will direct to the address that the user enters. Everything, the proxy server is ready!
Conclusion
As you can see, working with a local server is a simple task. Creating various sites on it will not be difficult for almost any person. So worth a try!