From: Ravi Kalakota <kalakota@uhura.cc.rochester.edu>

A server process (program) fulfills the client request by performing the 
task requested. Server programs generally receive requests from client 
programs, execute database retrieval and updates, manage data integrity 
and dispatch responses to client requests. Sometimes server programs 
execute common or complex business logic. The server-based process 
"may" run on another machine on the network. This  server could be the 
host operating system or network file server; the server is then provided 
both file system services and application services. Or in some cases, 
another desktop machine provides the application services. The server 
process acts as a software engine that manages shared resources such as 
databases, printers, communication links, or high powered-processors. The 
server process performs the back-end tasks that are common to similar 
applications.  

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