Servers also provide connections to shared peripherals such as printers.
Setting up one computer as a dedicated server prevents you from having to outfit every networked computer with extensive storage capability and duplicate costly peripherals. The computers that connect to the server are called clients. Note that you don't need to have a dedicated server in your network. Users can exchange files and e-mail, copy files onto each other's hard drives, and even use printers or modems connected to just one computer. But as more users are added to the network, a dedicated server can provide a central point for management duties such as file backup and program upgrades.