Summary
As network servers go, font servers are
simple. They require no authentication and give users very limited access to
the server computer. These servers convert font files in any of several
different formats into bitmaps of specific sizes, at the request of font server
client programs (typically X servers running on other computers). Running a
font server for use on a single computer may allow you to add fonts of a type
that's not directly supported by your X server, or you may be able to use an
expanded font server to provide applications with extra font information. Network
font servers allow you to quickly and easily add or change the fonts available
on a large number of computers by centralizing the font configuration in one
location. Adding fonts can still be a tedious undertaking, but if you use a
font server, you at least need to do it only once.