When Backups Fail: Data Recovery from Server Computers

There are different types of servers and each server is dedicated to performing a specific task. Therefore, a printer server is a computer or device that will be dedicated to managing one or more printers. Similarly, a database server is a device that will be dedicated for processing database queries.

Different Types of Servers

There are many types of servers. Each of these servers functions in a different manner and will have a specific purpose. We will discuss some of the most commonly used servers in our following section.

• Email Servers

Imagine working with a large company and not being able to communicate via email. Companies survive and thrive on email-based communication to get work done across various functions and sub-divisions within the company. While having an effective email server may not be the key to success, it can definitely affect the productivity of the company as well as the employees if it is not functioning properly.

An email server receives email from mail servers or other email clients. The email server moves and stores the mail via WANs and LANs. An email server consists of a storage area and a set of rules that can be defined by the user. The storage area is the place where in the mail is stored for the local users. If some messages are in transit then they are temporarily stored in the storage area as well.

We all tend to have our own setting on programs such as Outlook Express to personalise our mailing experience. For example, we may block certain email addresses so that we do not receive any mail from those senders. Similarly, the users can define the rules to establish how the mail server should respond while determining the destination of a mail message while using mail servers. In addition to the storage area and user-defined rules, an email server also consists of various communication modules as well as list of users.

• Web Servers

We all tend to browse web pages for gathering data, shopping, or emailing friends or colleagues. A web server allows us to view these web pages by serving static content to a web browser. This task is performed by loading a film from a disk and sending it across the network to the end-user’s web browser. The server and the browser interact with each other throughout this process by using HTTP.

• Database Servers

In a database server, a client passes the Structured Query Language (SQL) requests as messages to the server. Subsequently, the server sends across the results of the query back to the network. The SQL request and the data are processed by a code that resides on the server. This enables the server to use its own processing abilities to find the requested data.

In What Configuration are Hard Drives Used Inside Servers?

Most servers consist of multiple hard drive partitions. Some companies choose to create two partitions for the hard drive used inside the server. The creation of two partitions enables the hard drive to be segregated into 2 portions.

Whereas one partition is used for the operating system and applications, the other partition is used for storing data. Creating partitions on the hard disk is extremely beneficial in coping with catastrophic events. If something disastrous occurs on one partition, the other partition will be secure. Therefore, data recovery and technical support will be very easy.

What is RAID?

Redundant Array of Independent Drives (RAID) is a common term used for computer data storage systems that divide data amongst multiple hard drives. There are many RAID schemes that have been designed to make data storage on servers an effortless yet productive activity.

What Does RAID Data Recovery Entail?

To make any future data loss situation simpler, most people choose to mirror their hard drives using RAID 1 system. This system has two hard drives. Each hard drive acts as a complete backup of the other hard drive. Therefore, in the event of data loss, if one of the hard drives fail, the other hard drive keeps the data intact.

All types of RAID systems are designed in such a way that the servers keep working even when there is a data loss incident. It is very easy to swap the disks and data can be recovered even when the systems are running. In addition, data recovery becomes an automated process.

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