What are the benefits of having a server?

I am planning to make my old PC a server, just to have some fun doing a DIY project. The only problem is that I don't know the benefits of it. Pls explain, thank for your time.What are the benefits of having a server?
You don't exactly state what kind of server you want to run, so I'll go with some easy ones. You could use it as a file server, or even a web server for a personal project. Here's a list of GNU/Linux distros that are free software, you can run any of them on your old PC to easily turn it into a server for almost whatever you want.
I think an FTP file server would be pretty cool.
http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.鈥?/a>

If you want your server to be accessible from the internet, you will need a dynamic dns to point towards your home IP and do some port forwarding to the server. Here's some popular (free) dynamic dns providers.
http://dyn.com/
http://www.no-ip.com/What are the benefits of having a server?
Unless you are on a network environment, there is no benefit to it.

The main role of a server is to "service" other devices called client.

A client makes a request to a server, and it will "service" the client.

A client can be a computer, a cellphone, a tv, and any device with network interface.

Here are common server tasks: file server(storing and retrieving file), multimedia server(streaming and sharing media), web server(hosting website so that clients can access it), mail server(self descriptive), application server(host application so that it can be used remotely), VoIP server(telephony over network)...

To make things simple with ONE server you can have a centralized resource management, with TWO or MORE servers you have what is called a distributed resource management(more or less).What are the benefits of having a server?
In general, the basic idea of a "server" (as opposed to a desktop/laptop workstation type of thing), is that a server performs its function(s) without YOU being there to do anything. You install the server, configure it to do whatever it is you have chosen for its job, and then it just sits there doing it by itself, without you.

A server waits around until someone connects to it over a network and then it goes to work "servicing" the request. As mentioned above by RPiA, you have to decide what work it will do. File archival? Web pages? Version control repository? Minecraft? Several things at once? You pick.

Your server PC will do the work while you sit at home watching Star Gate re-runs.

Run Linux. Enjoy.


(And yes, Ron Paul is indeed awesome!)