Also called an
appliance server, a specialized
server that is designed for ease of installation and maintenance. Server appliances have their
hardware and
software bundled in the product, so all
applications are pre-installed. The appliance is plugged into an existing
network and can begin working almost immediately, with little configuration. It is designed to run with little or no support.
Server appliances provide Internet sharing, FTP services, e-mail, VPN connections, firewall services, print and file serving and also operates as a Web server. Access to the server appliance is through a Web browser.
A server appliance can be integrated into existing networks in small enterprises or homes. It is not practical for large enterprises to utilize server appliances.
