What is a server?

There are many kinds of servers. Some servers are denoted by their hardware configuration and a specialized operating system. Other servers consist of specialized software applications running on standard computers.

Some servers are called “file servers” and may be a powerful computer dedicated to storing files and data. For example, Sage 100 Contractor company data can be stored on a file server computer. Any Sage 100 Contractor user on the same network as the file server computer can access and store data there.

A server can also be a software application that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers. The term server can refer to a particular piece of software, such as the license server. When we refer to the license server, we are describing a computer that is running the license server software.