Superserver

A super server is a server process that monitors many ports and when a client requests the competent Server service starts. If this server does its job for this request, he will be terminated.

Inetd is a known example of a super-server for Unix systems. The assignment of network services to the port numbers are in the file / etc / services.

Benefits

In the classical approach monitors a server process a port. In many ports so many processes are in wait status while consuming system resources, especially memory. In Super server approach only the comparatively small server is maintained, which requires less memory when inactive server services.

Many super servers are configured to the effect that

• Requests only from certain addresses are possible,
• Services can be started under certain users,
• Thresholds for processes started in absolute terms and per unit of time can be set.

In addition, the Super Server provides a simplified programming of server services, as he starts a separate process for each incoming connection request. The programmer need not worry about these details within his program.

Disadvantages

Time is needed for the start of the server, which increases the reaction time according to the availability of the network service. In many short processing operations on the system by more than load generated with an already waiting processing.