Difference Between a Server and a Workstation

Difference Between a Server and a Workstation 

Server

A server is a device that provides specific services to devices connected to it, called client machines. These clients, also known as end-user devices, typically include PCs (laptops, desktops), mobile devices, and more.

Clients and servers communicate through wired or wireless networks. When a client sends a request to the server, the server responds by providing the requested service.

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What are the types of servers?

There are several types of servers, including web servers, application servers, database servers, file servers, and mail servers.

• A web server provides web resources to clients.
• An application server allows clients to use applications.
• A file server provides files to clients.
• A database server runs DBMS (Database Management Systems).
• A mail server provides email services to users.

Since it's network communication, each service uses a specific protocol (such as HTTP or FTP) to communicate over the internet.

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Workstation

A workstation refers to a specialized device used to solve complex and scientific problems that require advanced computation. It is mainly used for R&D purposes or to run heavy applications.

 

A regular desktop is not suitable for performing technical tasks due to its lower specifications. A workstation, on the other hand, requires high specifications in terms of capacity, CPU performance, and memory because it needs to perform tasks such as collecting weather forecast data for meteorological centers, conducting complex mathematical calculations, or performing multitasking operations.

 

Commonly used in computer rooms as a mainframe computer terminal, a workstation can be equipped with various display and input devices (such as programmed keyboard controllers), in addition to a mouse and keyboard.

It is used for tasks like 3D mechanical design, image rendering in animation, and various engineering-based simulations.

In short, a workstation is a machine designed for handling complex tasks.

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Summary
A server maintains connections to multiple clients over a network and performs various tasks, whereas a workstation is a standalone device that is used to perform specific tasks that require high performance, such as simulations or complex calculations.