Computer Servers For Dummies



To begin with, servers are defined as computers that are configured in such a way that they are able to provide specialized services to a specific client user or machine. They serve as task masters that manage a variety of services such as files, system jobs, network requests, and other various processes. Although they can be used for a myriad of purposes, servers primarily function as web hosting solutions.

The Wonder of Web Servers

Servers have become a very versatile solution for a variety of user needs. May it be file storage management, a network firewall, an email server, or simply as a web hosting solution, servers are the answer to almost every need. In fact, it would be very difficult to find any type of contemporary business or company that does not make use of some sort of server.

One of the biggest misconceptions about web servers is that they might be too complicated for the average Joe. The truth is, they are quite simple to manage and so long as a user has some level of technical knowledge, he should be good to go. In fact, setting up a server for one’s own website isn’t too much of a daunting task. Although it will still require a certain level of computer know-how, it is no Herculean feat at all. With a little research, some patience, and a whole lot of resourcefulness, one could very easily set up a personal server for one’s own site. This is also made possible by the fact that most server providers equip their users with easy-to-use tools to make the entire process much more user-friendly.

The Basics Types of Web Servers

When it comes to the configuration of web hosting servers, they generally come in three different offerings. First is shared web hosting which is the most common type of web server today. This immense fame is brought about by both its affordability and simplicity. Websites that run on shared servers will (obviously) share the same IP address as well as make use of the same system resources.

The second web hosting option for users is dedicated servers. As its name implies, websites that make use of a dedicated server will have full rights and control of the whole system. Because of the fact that they do not share their servers with other websites, this also means that they will have exclusive access to all the resources of the system.

The Keys to Success

Because of websites’ growing need for more hard drive storage space and bandwidth, servers have become more and more of a requirement rather than an option. Each individual or business will have a different set of requirements and needs which means there is no one-size-fits-all sort of web hosting solution for everyone. However, the good thing is that it isn’t that difficult to set up a specific type of server that will fulfil the needs of one’s own website. Doing a little online research will definitely be helpful in this regard as there are a multitude of websites that provide information and tips on how to set up a server for all sorts of business website.

Source: articledashboard By: Ritchie Smythe



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Build A Gaming PC



Some guys I knew back in college had different kinds of computers in their room. While a lot of them mostly had notebooks, I knew some people who preferred to keep desktops. It came to as a surprise however to see that a lot of the people that had the latter didn't own a custom pc. I assumed that because it was the grand stage of experimentation, they'd have those at least. A gamer friend of mine back then owned one that was pre-built and was constantly frustrated me with the games that he bought and that eventually couldn't run properly because of the wrong pc gaming parts that led to performance issues.

A lot of the standard components today are already good enough for whatever you want to do with them, but to obtain optimum performance, you need specific parts. So if you think you'll be doing a lot of pc gaming, then you should learn how to build your own computer. PC gaming is probably one of the primary reasons why the industry of hardware has rapid growth. Graphic cards and sound cards were given a premium because of the high requirements of some games. Consumers now have to constantly upgrade their graphics and sound system for state of the art pc gaming experience.

If you're a fan of EA, then this is definitely a must for you. EA possibly one of the most visually attractive stuff out there today, but not all developers are like them. If you're a Blizzard guy and you enjoy games like World of Warcraft, then you don't really need the high spec stuff to enjoy yourself and not worry about performance since the game can run just as well with low video settings. Basically, I have two component recommends when you build your own pc. These are the power supply and the processor. Now why should you pick these two to optimize your pc gaming experience rather than anything else? Well first off, let's talk about the power supply.

The power supply is one of the most integral parts of your system because it distributes power to everything. Try and pick one that can deliver up to 800-1400W of power. You also need to make sure that it receives a lot of cooling. Only you can prevent desktop fire. The processor is the key piece. You need a pretty strong processor to be able to have smooth game play. Dual core should be okay, but of course, optimizing means getting a quad-core processor. You can get an AMD64 x2 or you can go for Intel and pick E65XX, E66XX or E67XX.

The best processors to get however would be AMD FX or the Intel Extreme edition. If you really want to improve your pc gaming experience, these are two important factors. When you want a gaming computer or any computer for a very specific purpose then I suggest that you build it yourself. It pays to do a little research about what hardware you want to buy and what you want it to do for you. You don't want to find yourself putting out a fire that an overworked power supply caused because it couldn't handle the tasks it had to do.

So if you're into pc gaming and you don't want to frustrate yourself with performance issues, build everything yourself.

Source : goarticles by Jego Goldstein



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How To Decide A Desktop Configuration



Whether you build your own desktop PC from scratch or buy one pre-built, you're still going to have to take into account various aspects of the configuration to pick the one that best suits your needs. So how do you decide what configuration is right for you?

The first thing to consider is your budget – what price would you ideally be looking at, and what's the absolute maximum you're willing to spend? The next thing to consider is your minimum requirements – what aspects of your desktop PC do you vitally need and what aspects would you merely like if you could afford them? You'll then need to decide on a PC based on these two aspects, finding a good balance between performance and price. Once you have your budget though, you'll also need to decide which aspects of the desktop's performance your money goes into – graphics? Storage space? Processing speed? And this will again be based on what the minimum requirements of your PC. But how do you know which things your PC needs and which things you can do without? If you're not fully clued in to all the hardware mumbo-jumbo then it can be hard to know whether a desktop meets your requirements making it easy to be enthralled by an attractive outer casing and a low price tag.

The performance requirements of your desktop will depend very much on how you intend to use it. To make life more simple you can very broadly categorise desktop PCs into three categories. The first of these is likely the desktop used for work and business. Such a PC will be required to run various different programmes at once to allow multi-tasking and have a reliable internet connection. It would also be useful to have a software package that includes Microsoft office and certainly the latest OS installed (currently Windows Vista). RAM too would be useful but this can be added later. On the other hand it won't need to have particularly high-end graphics or lots of storage space. Your minimum requirements here then are a fast processor (anything above 4GHZ to be safe), Windows Vista, word processing and some extra RAM.

Another category of PC used regularly is the 'family' PC. Such a PC is required to cater to everyone's needs, handling school work, late-night MSN chats, casual gaming and business documents. In a case like this then you will want to spread the cost out as much as possible across all areas and to focus on processing power, graphics cards, hard drive, RAM and software. If you don't use this PC much for work, however, then you may find that you don't really need an expensive software package. Media will also be important for such a computer so look for one with a DVD drive that can read and write and look for a large monitor to watch films or view photos around.

For a gaming PC however that can play all the latest games the priorities shift slightly to the 'power' of the machine. This will require a top end processor as well as top end graphic cards and lots of extra RAM. Here software is irrelevant (though Vista may be required for some of the more recent games) and a large hard drive is less important as are any additional bells and whistles.

Source: articledashboard By: Alison Deffenbaugh




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The Danger behind Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File Sharing program



File sharing is very common nowadays. You can get a P2P (peer-to-peer) program for free and soon start sharing stuff like music, videos and programs. We use these applications freely and most of us don't know the risks involved when using them.

Questionable reliability of files - Once we get our hands on a P2P program, we download everything we want like crazy. Favorite music, free software's, as long as it is available, you download them. Hackers, attackers, or whatever, use this to their advantage. They can insert Trojans, viruses, spyware and other kinds of malware, and then share it to the P2P network. Unwary victims fall prey to these traps, and pay its price.

They make you vulnerable. Don't let them. - Some P2P programs request you to open up your firewall in order for you to share and download files. This makes you vulnerable and giving attackers openings and opportunities to attack your system.
Breaching privacy - P2P programs that require you to give personal information are very doubtful when it comes to keeping your data secure. Since security is also unreliable, unauthorized people can gain access to your information easily.
Piracy - Would you consider the fact that P2P hosts illegal action which violates the intellectual property rights of hardworking people? The music industry, for example, is going down and most people don't even care, as long as they get songs for free.

To eliminate P2P risks, take preventive measures and just don't use them. If you still want to use such applications, be sure to be prepared for the worse.
Keep anti-virus software in your computer and regularly update its definitions. Everyday, there are new kinds of viruses that spread in the internet, so keeping your anti-virus programs updated is a must.

Enable your firewall. If the P2P program asks you to turn it off or open some ports, don't do it. Just find some other program that doesn't require you to do anything irrational to your firewall.

Now that you know more about P2P file sharing and its risks, you would know how to deal with certain kinds of situations in relation to this. It's still in your discretion if you still want to use them.

Source : goarticles by altaf

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