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Lesson 3
Objective
 Web server hardware requirements
Describe the hardware factors affecting Web server performance.
    When examining performance monitoring, you need to understand the components critical to performance. You also need to consider performance when choosing the hardware components that make up your Web server.
The key components to consider are:
  1. IO: Input/output system, also called I/O (pronounced eye-oh).
    I/O refers to any operation, program, or device whose purpose is to enter data into or extract data from a computer. Input/output (I/O) subsystem
  2. Network subsystem
  3. Memory
  4. CPU: The central processing unit or CPU is sometimes referred to as the processor or central processor.
    The CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system.
  5. Server software
These components are described in the SlideShow below.
Image

WebServer Hardware Components
Although the CPU is not the most important element, you should nevertheless have a powerful CPU when running a heavily database- or script-driven site. If you are limited in funds, however, make sure that you focus on system I/O elements, such as the hard drive controller and the NIC. As soon as you start doing intensive encryption or server side coding, the processor becomes much more important.
Site Connectivity
Comparisons of hardware architecture will help you decide which architecture is best for your site.
Web Server Hardware Requirements
This decision tree is meant to show one particular series of paths.
Due to the amount of options in the e-commerce world, it cannot be exhaustive.
Server software is the key performance factor, and is discussed in the next lesson.
Web Server Hardware - Quiz
Click the Quiz link below to take a multiple-choice quiz about Web server requirements.
Web Server Hardware - Quiz
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