If your business thrives off of the storage, transfer and access of digital information, it’s important to have a place to store that data and a network to make it convenient for employees to access it from multiple devices. Computer servers available at Staples are the perfect solution to your data storage and communication needs.

What Are Computer Servers?

Servers are computer devices that store data for access by other computers on the same local network or through the internet. While most desktop computers can be used for servers simply by running special software, large and powerful machines are typically the best computers for servers because they can manage a larger network of devices.

On a small scale, computer servers may be used to maintain file storage, communication between devices and access to website services. Keep your business data safe by hosting your own files privately and securely on your business network with servers.

While servers are commonly used for businesses, they are also becoming more popular for personal use. Home servers are ideal for storing large amounts of personal data including audio, TV and streaming media such as movies and music.

Computer servers are made up of several different components — typically made up of a rack mount with a power supply, system board, one or more CPUs, memory, storage and a network interface. Start building a network by shopping from the large selection of servers for businesses and personal use available at Staples.

How to Choose From the Different Types of Servers

When looking for the right computer server for you, consider how you intend to use the networking device. For example, memory and storage capacity are two key features to research.

Businesses that share files and provide email services to employees should look into File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers, which are network-attached storage units. They’re standalone systems and most of them have multiple storage drives. Other types available at Staples include:

Proxy Servers: When your computer accesses a proxy server, it will update its IP location and let you access any limited data.
Gaming Servers: These are used by gamers who can attempt to gain access to a game server.
Web Servers: These host web data and files that are used on the internet.
Print Servers: Another popular type used by businesses, these connect all the printers in the office, allowing employees to send files to them remotely.

Servers also come in a variety of form factors, including tower, blade and rack mount units. Tower units look like regular desktop computers and PCs, but do not require mounting and are available in various sizes. Rack mount and blade units have space-saving designs, but must be mounted to a server rack. They’re ideal if your business requires multiple servers. Blade servers are thinner than rack mount units and require dedicated cooling systems.

Computer Servers & Accessories