Interact with the Internet?

In Internet terminology, a host is a device connected to one of the many networks that together form the Internet. Most peolple only interact directly with one type of Host, a Server.

A Server for the Internet environment has features that are specific to this role: The physical volume taken up by the machine & the power requirement is much more important in the Internet datacenter than in a conventional coporate server room. Datacenter space is at a premium, & the environment to house a 24/7 server is much more expensive than a conventional server room. The heat output, & therfore the datacenter cooling requirements, are directly linked to the power needed to run a device. The proximity of Telecomms infrastructure and Interconnections between network providers ensures that the floor area is at a premium.

Reliability is the key to a good server, and that means a real server. Don't get me wrong, you can use a pc and many companies do. It's not a snob thing, they're just built from better quality components that are tested to work together properly.

Unlike a dumb PC, a Real Server dectects early on that something is wrong, alerts a control center, and then carries on working; An engineer can fix it for you with minimum downtime and at the time of day that suits your business. How long would it take to replace a PC's power supply? A power supply in a server takes less than a minute, you don't necessarily have to shut it down first.