Chapter 12: Console-Based Server Apps and Services

At the opposite end of the spectrum from microdevices, embedded electronics, beacons, and single-board computers (SBCs), you will find large data centers with racks of servers processing terabytes of data at lightning speed to millions of users across the internet. These machines run 24 hours a day and, except for the initial installation process and occasional maintenance, are seldom seen by humans. These machines are called "headless" computers because they run unattended without monitors, keyboards, or mice.

You might immediately point out that Raspberry Pi and other SBCs are often used as headless mini servers and work quite well. Additionally, some small offices often use one of their more powerful workstations as a server machine with shared access to other workers. There is definitely some crossover in the variety of hardware that is available and how it's put to use. However, in this chapter, we'll focus...