Servers and Clients

The network computer that contains the hard drives, printers, and other
resources that are shared with other network computers is called a server.
This term comes up repeatedly, so you have to remember it. Write it on the
back of your left hand.

Any computer that’s not a server is called a client. You have to remember this
term, too. Write it on the back of your right hand.
Only two kinds of computers are on a network: servers and clients. Look at
your left hand and then look at your right hand. Don’t wash your hands until
you have these terms memorized.
The distinction between servers and clients in a network has parallels in
sociology — in effect, a sort of class distinction between the “haves” and
“have-nots” of computer resources:
 Usually, the most powerful and expensive computers in a network are
the servers. There’s a good technical reason: Every user on the network
shares the server’s resources.
 The cheaper and less powerful computers in a network are the clients.
Clients are the computers used by individual users for everyday work.
Because clients’ resources don’t have to be shared, they don’t have to
be as fancy.
 Most networks have more clients than servers. For example, a network
with ten clients can probably get by with one server.
 In many networks, a clean line of demarcation exists between servers
and clients. In other words, a computer functions as either a server or a
client, and not both. For the sake of an efficient network, a server can’t
become a client, nor can a client become a server.
 Other (usually smaller) networks can be more even-handed, allowing
any computer in the network to be a server and client at the same time.