What is an Application Server – Challenges and Benefits | Parallels
Last updated on October 20, 2022
What is an Application Server?
An application server is a centralized datacenter server that facilitates the installation, operation, hosting, and delivery of applications and desktops for end-users, IT services, and companies. When it comes to virtualization, an application server is used to deliver virtual applications to end-user devices and ensures high availability and anywhere access to the end-users. Data optimization, load-balancing, data security, monitoring, and troubleshooting are a few key features of an application server. Incoming requests from the end-user client are allocated to the application server for the effective processing of the requests. An application server enables generating dynamic templates of apps and desktops, allowing for automatic workload scaling.
Challenges with Application Server
Application servers are slowly becoming a thing of the past for many industries as certain cons sometimes outweigh the benefits. First of all, with application servers, there has to be other supporting components that incur more expenses. Additional expenses are incurred in the area of management as well. Moreover, network delay is an issue that might cause delays in data accessibility. These challenges have pushed industries to move towards application delivery, which solves many of the concerns introduced by the application server.
The Benefits
When your app has to show dynamic information, interface with databases, or connect to other web servers, application servers are the ideal choice. Application servers also offer the following benefits:
- the capacity to handle database servers and web servers centrally;
- simple patching and new security procedures deployment;
- a greater tolerance for faults;
- transaction assistance;
- easy generation of backups;
- process optimization for load balancing;
- enhancing performance
How is a Web Server Different?
A web server and an application server both play comparable responsibilities. However, the app server implements business logic through a set of protocols, whereas the web server receives HTTP requests and frequently offers static content in the form of JavaScript, CSS, and HTML code.
Another distinction between an app and a web server is that the latter frequently prohibits transactions or database interactions (although it can handle caching, clustering, and load balancing).
When comparing an app server to a web container, the bulk of containers merely adhere to the most basic Java standard requirements. App servers, on the other hand, follow the entire Java EE Specification.
How Parallels RAS fits over Application Server?
Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is an application delivery solution that can seamlessly integrate on-premises, cloud, web-based applications, and desktops in multiple end-user devices. It is scalable and highly secured with cutting-edge technologies such as Multi-Factor Authentication and TOTP. Monitoring and management of the whole infrastructure are available in a single dashboard itself, which gives hassle-free administration around the virtual app and desktop delivery. Moreover, it is easy to install and manage, and comes as a complete out-of-the-box solution. Keep everything central without the need for 3rd-party add-ons and expensive consulting services.
Check-out our 30-day trial of Parallels RAS solution and see the benefits for yourself!
