What Is the Difference Between a Server & a Desktop?
A server is not intended for individual users, it manages all the users in a network. Servers have designated functions, such as handling the network's security, database, email or access. Desktops are used directly by users to accomplish daily tasks.
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Technical Differences
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Servers are typically designed to be more powerful than desktop computers. They have more disk space, more random access memory (RAM) and faster processors. Desktops connect simultaneously to a server to perform different tasks. A network with 1,000 users, for example, needs a powerful mail server to send and receive emails continuously for all users. A desktop, on the other hand, performs tasks specific to the current user, which is why they can be less powerful than servers. They are also cheaper than servers because they don't require very large disk space, maximum RAM or the fastest processor speed.
Differences In Operating Systems
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Servers have different operating systems from desktops. Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 are server operating systems. Desktops use Windows operating systems such as XP, Vista and Windows 7. Server operating systems have administrative tools for implementing policies and managing large networks, while desktop operating systems do not have the capability to manage other computers.
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Security and Access
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Access is more restrictive to servers than to desktops because if a server is hacked, it opens up the network and all its computers to security threats. Because servers hold a lot of information---including files, emails and databases---security is tighter than for desktops. Only administrators in the network can make any changes on servers. Also, servers cannot be rebooted or shut down on a whim because that means taking down all the users connected to the server. Unlike with desktops, any changes, updates or installations on servers must be carefully planned before implementation.
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