Servers

A server is a computer that handles requests (data, services, or programs) from other computers, known as clients, over a network. Servers are often a critical component of architectural solutions for data management and software deployment. There are many reasons why you as a researcher may need to use a server, for example:

• You need a machine to handle large amounts of requests
• You want to outsource the maintenance of a server to TU Delft ICT
• You would like to rely on safety and security administrated by the university, including backups
• A part of your analysis should be running continuously, and cannot do it with your own machine

Note Note

It is not recommended to use servers to set up services that are already provided by the ICT department. When in doubt, you can always contact your Faculty ICT Manager (FIM) and/or Faculty Data Steward.

Virtual vs physical servers

All servers are a physical computer sitting somewhere. However, there is a common distiction between virtual and physical servers, where a virtual server is an independent instance provided by a larger physical server. Virtual servers are provided free of charge and can be requested via TOPdesk. Physical server placement can be requested by contacting the faculty’s IT manager, and any associated costs are paid by the purchasing researcher and/or department.

In most cases, a virtual server is the most suitable option. However, a physical server may be necessary when it is intended for specific use cases (e.g., laboratory equipment, sensor data acquisition, image processing).

TU Delft offers its employees the use of physical or virtual servers, these servers are referred as faculty managed servers which are therefore private to the university network by default. Virtual Private Servers (VPS) can be requested as described in the next guide Request a VPS, whereas physical server placement follow a different procedure for which we strongly encourage you to consult your FIM.

Relevant considerations

Having a Faculty Managed Server (either virtual or physical) can poise several advantages:

• ICT provides the server, operating system, and network access.
• ICT provides daily backups, restoration services, and virus scanning for Windows servers.
• ICT ensures that the server operating system remains up to date (e.g., security patches), except for Linux systems.
• Access can be granted to both TU Delft members and external users.
• Users are granted administrator privileges, allowing them to install any required software, provided it complies with the conditions specified in the request form.

Tip Tip

Detailed information on managing the server, including network and firewall settings, is provided in the TOPdesk application form.

Example use cases

• Performing computational or data processing tasks that require a dedicated server environment.
• Running an instance of a service, application, or other specialized tools for a lab or research group not currently centrally provided by the university.
• Hosting a static website, a web application, or an API for a project.
• Hosting databases, such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or other database management systems.