The server acts as the master computer that all the other computers in the network feed off. The network server must be able to handle multiple requests simultaneously. When you are thinking about purchasing a new network server, there are a number of important questions that you should keep in mind while considering your options:

• Which processor do I want to incorporate into my server?

• How many processors do I want to use in my system?

• How much RAM should I get in my new system?

• How safe does my data needs to be?

• What operating system(s) will I use?

• Do I want a rack or tower based system?

The key challenge has been in mapping the requirements to the appropriate platform. IT infrastructure can broadly be classified into three segments, namely, enterprise segment, IDC segment and xSP segment. They all are demanding new solutions from their server vendors. The demands of the Internet economy on traditional enterprises and new business segments, such as web-hosting organizations, application service providers and dotcoms, have changed the way many companies view their infrastructure, and how they acquire and implement server solutions. The Internet does change everything, including who the buyers of IT server-hardware are, what they are buying and why they are using it?