What is a server?

Now that we have seen a bit what the Internet is made of, let’s zoom-in the part we are interested in today: servers

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Before we go to the next round of images, around a server, we can do a short round of intervention from participants, with a open question: “We have heard the word “server” in the above presentation, but what do you think is a server, in your own wording?”

In this image, each "rack" is a server. "FSN data center backview" by Steve Hulford is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Figure 1: In this image, each "rack" is a server. "FSN data center backview" by Steve Hulford is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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Internet is made of computers, with different shapes and functions. Materially: servers are usually computer placed on racks, without screens, connected to other computers with cables. In this image, each “rack” is a server.

How a server works: serving informations or data back to clients or other servers. Illustration by Marie Verdeil. License CC-BY-SA-NC
Figure 2: How a server works: serving informations or data back to clients or other servers. Illustration by Marie Verdeil. License CC-BY-SA-NC

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Functionally: a server does what its name implies. It serves (sends) informations. In computing we refer to client as the computers that ask to retrieve informations, files or calculations. For example here, a “client” ask (requests) Wikipedia’s server for its front page file, the server responds and send it back.

However, a server doesn't have to be in a data center. Meme saying: "What if I told you, the cloud is just someone computer"
Figure 3: However, a server doesn't have to be in a data center. Meme saying: "What if I told you, the cloud is just someone computer"

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Essentially,a server is just a computer configured to talk to other computers. It actually doesn’t have to be in a data center, it’s mostly for speed, and energy efficiency reasons. Historically, most companies and universities were running their own servers in their IT department, hosting their own software. They also had an intranet for handling their professional files (a local network).

A server can also be ran at home. Club1 self-hosted (new) server being installed in their apartment https://club1.fr/nouveau-boitier
Figure 4: A server can also be ran at home. Club1 self-hosted (new) server being installed in their apartment https://club1.fr/nouveau-boitier

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Some people actually have their own server at home. Like Club1.fr in the image. This Paris-based association hosts websites for artists in a server at one of the member’s place, in a cupboard. Here they are setting-it up in the living room. This is called self-hosting.

Low-tech Magazine hosts their website on their own mini-computer that is solar-powered. The server that runs Low-tech Magazine. Photo Marie Verdeil (license cc-by-sa-nc).
Figure 5: Low-tech Magazine hosts their website on their own mini-computer that is solar-powered. The server that runs Low-tech Magazine. Photo Marie Verdeil (license cc-by-sa-nc).

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Self-hosting server is way to get more control on your data (privacy reasons), but also more control on the infrastructure. This is the server and infrastructures that powers the website of Low-tech Magazine, a techno-critical online media.

Solar panels on Low-tech Magazine's founder Kris De Decker balcony. Photo Marie Verdeil (license cc-by-sa-nc).

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The server runs on a tiny 2W computer, powered by a single solar panel. When the weather is too bad, they chose to let it run out of battery and turn off, rather than having spare batteries and backup oil generators, like data centers have. 100% uptime also has a cost, and a pricy one.

The website files are also compressed in size. Screenshot: An article about low-tech websites on Low-tech Magazine
Figure 6: The website files are also compressed in size. Screenshot: An article about low-tech websites on Low-tech Magazine

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Consequently the website hosted is highly compressed, to fit on this tiny device and serve content as lightweight as possible. No videos, no tracking, dithered images.

A web-server can be just your computer, so why not your phone? Low-tech Magazine website shown on a 2013 laptop. Photo Marie Verdeil (license cc-by-sa-nc).
Figure 7: A web-server can be just your computer, so why not your phone? Low-tech Magazine website shown on a 2013 laptop. Photo Marie Verdeil (license cc-by-sa-nc).

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Can we do something similar to have host text and images ourselves? Yes with our phones: essentially a free, powerful, battery optimised computer. This is what we will do now!