Chapter 5. Services

A server is hardware. A service is the function that the server provides. A service may be built on several servers that work in conjunction with one another. This chapter explains how to build a service that meets customer requirements, is reliable, and is maintainable.

Providing a service involves not only putting together the hardware and software but also making the service reliable, scaling the service’s growth, and monitoring, maintaining, and supporting it. A service is not truly a service until it meets these basic requirements.