ServerWatch > Server Directory

Server Directory

ServerWatch breaks down the Internet servers we review into 14 categories. For more information about a category, click on the server type for a comprehensive overview and a list of servers reviewed on the site.

Web Servers
(See a detailed list of all Web servers.)

At its core, a Web server serves static content to a Web browser by loading a file from a disk and serving it across the network to a user's Web browser. This entire exchange is mediated by the browser and server talking to each other using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

Mail Servers
(See a detailed list of all mail servers.)

Almost as ubiquitous and crucial as Web servers, mail servers move and store mail over private networks and across the Internet.

Quick Search Server Type APPLICATIONCOLLABORATIONFTPLISTMAILPROXYREAL-TIME COMMUNICATIONTELNETWEB Operating System AIXAS/400BSD (any)Be OSDigital UNIXHP-UXHyper-VIRIXJava_VMLinuxMVSMacOSMacOS X ServerNetWareOS/2OS/400OSF/1QNXRed Hat LinuxSCO OpenServerSUSE LinuxSolarisTru64 UnixUnix (all)VM/CMSVMSVMwareWindows 2000Windows 95/98Windows MEWindows NT 4.0Windows Server 2003Windows Server 2008Windows VistaWindows XPXen Base Price Free $25 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 $300 Vendor Office IRC3RSoft4D, Inc.AdobeAgranat Systems, Inc.Akiva Idea TechnologiesAkonix Alcomp DevelopmentAllegro Software Development Corp.Alt-N TechnologiesAmerica OnlineAnalogXAntepoApache Software FoundationAppleAprelium TechnologiesArGo Software DesignArcane SoftwareAstrolineAtaman SoftwareAtrium SoftwareAvirtBEA SystemsBPFTP ServerBVRP SoftwareBadBlueBahamutBisonWare SoftwareBorlandBurton Computer CorporationC2Net SoftwareCE SoftwareCaldera International, Inc.CanonicalCenter for Biological Comp at IN St UnivCentrinity Inc.Chris EvansCommuniGate SystemsCoolFusion.comCovalent TechnologiesCrescendoCrushFTPCybernet Systems CybozuData Access WorldwideDeerfield.comDelano Technology Corp. Digigami, Inc.DocumentumEMWACEdinburgh UniversityEnstarEpsylon TechnologiesEsker SoftwareEtypeEvermind DataExperTelligenceFaceTime CommunicationsFictional.netFictional.net/Fictional DaemonFloosietek Ltd.FreeBSD ProjectGFI GNU Project Gecad TechnologiesGeorgia SoftWorks GlobalSCAPEGoAhead SoftwareGordanoGreat Circle AssociatesGuildFTPdHAHT CommerceHP Middleware (HPMD) Hawkeye ProjectHewlett-PackardI/NET, Inc.IBMIMlogicIPswitch SoftwareIRCD GroupIRCPlusITServ inc.ITServ inc.IceWarp SoftwareIgniterealtimeIgor SysoevInfopulseInterVU, IncInternet Software Consortium (ISC) IronFlareJBoss, a division of Red HatJabber SoftwareFoundationJabberd Project Jarle AaseJive SoftwareKerio TechnologiesL-Soft InteractiveLAN-Projekt Liquid Audio, Inc.Live UpdateLotusLyris Technologies, Inc.MCF SoftwareMacromediaMaxum Development CorporationMessageMediaMetaInfo, Inc.Michael LamontMicrosoft Corp.Mike MeyerNEON Systems, Inc.NLANRNational Center for Supercomputing AppsNetBSD ProjectNetWin Ltd.NetcPlus Internet Solutions NetscapeNoisette Software Northwestern University Math DeptNovellO'Reilly & AssociatesOpen TextOpen-XchangeOpenBSDOpenwaveOracle Corporation Ositis SoftwareOutspring Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.ParlanoPegasus MailPendulabPersistence SoftwarePervasive SoftwarePostPathPragmasys.comPramatiQbikQualcommQuality On LineRED HAT INCRaidenFTPD ProjectRapid Logic Inc.RapidSite, Inc.RealNetworksRhinoSoft.comRobTexRockliffe SoftwareRoger Smith Software Roxen Internet SoftwareSUSESambar TechnologiesScalixSeattle LabSendmail, Inc.ServertecShadow Ops SoftwareSmartMax SoftwareSoftware602SolidSpaceSouth RiverSpyglassStalker Software, Inc.StarNine Technologies, Inc.Sterling Software, Inc.Sun MicrosystemsSun Netscape AllianceSybaseSybergen NetworksTcl Developer ExchangeTeamware GroupTenon IntersystemsTexas Imperial SoftwareThe DSP Group, Inc.The Dalnet Development GroupThe Debian ProjectThe Undernet IRCd Development Group True North SoftwareTrueSpectraTrumpet Software InternationalVDOnet Corp.VTEL.Van Dyke Technologies VanDyke SoftwareVelocity Software, Inc.VersataVicomsoftVircomVirtual MotionVirtualTekVivo Software, Inc.VolanoVosaic LLCVoxware, Inc.W3CWebMasterWebbase, Inc.Wietse Zweitze VenemaWiredRedWith EnterprisesXandrosXimianXing Technology CorporationZeus TechnologyZimbraZopeeRoom Technology iMatixlighthttpdqmailvqSoft Detailed Search

Real-Time Communication Servers
Our real-time communication server category consists of chat servers, instant messaging servers, instant messaging gateway servers, and IRC servers. 

Application Servers
(See a detailed list of all app servers.)

Sometimes referred to as a type of middleware, application servers occupy a large chunk of computing territory between database servers and the end user, and they often connect the two.

FTP Servers
(See a detailed list of all FTP servers.)

File Transfer Protocol makes it possible to move files from one computer to another via the Internet. Although one of the oldest Internet services, FTP servers have kept pace with the times. Today's FTP servers feature user authentication, file transfer policies, and detailed activity logging as well as deliver virtualization and automation capabilities.

Proxy Servers
(See a detailed list of all proxy servers.)

In the general sense, a proxy is a stand in. In network architecture, it's an entity that sits between corporate client machines and the Internet. A forward proxy stands in the way of the Internet and receives data from client machines bound for the Internet and forwards it on on their behalf. A reverse proxy stands in the way of servers within the corporate network and receives data bound for them, and distributes it on.

Collaboration Servers
In many ways, groupware is the clearest way to show the true power of the World Wide Web

List Servers
List servers offer a way to better manage mailing lists, whether they be interactive discussions open to the public or one-way lists that deliver announcements, newsletters, or advertising.

Telnet Servers
A telnet server enables users to log on to a host computer and perform tasks as if they're working on the remote computer itself.

Operating System Servers
A term often used synonymously with 'operating system,' a platform is the underlying hardware or software for a system and is thus the engine that drives the server.

Server Attic Servers
In the fast-paced world of IT, servers come and go. This section is for those servers that are no longer sold or supported but that an organization, for whatever reason, may be interested in learning more about.

News IBM Ups Internal Storage in Blade Server [October 3, 2008] Adding larger-size drives to a blade means much more storage inside a blade chassis, rather than using external storage. Tutorials LDAP Master Server Problems [October 6, 2008] Tip of the Trade: Finding and fixing master server issues isn't always easy, especially when the slave servers seem to be working fine. With careful searching ldapsearch, handily resolves issues. Stats Surveys Says IT Pros Want Windows Server 2008 [February 20, 2008] A new customer survey by a major Microsoft reseller finds swelling demand for the new operating system. Reviews KMS: The Mail Server Goes Virtual [September 5, 2008] This multi-platform mail server offers support for mobile devices and can take the form factor of a virtual appliance.