Network Operating Systems and Client Connectivity

Network operating systems (NOS) are some of the most powerful and complex software products available today. This tutorial looks at a number of operating systems that are widely used in today's network environments.

In this tutorial, we will also look at the interoperability capabilities of each network operating system and at the range of client support it provides. However, the information described in this tutorial is not intended to provide a complete tutorial in any of the operating systems discussed.

Part of the job of a network administrator is to manage the network media. This tutorial reviews some of the common tools used to manage network media.

Finally, configuring client systems to access a network is a common task for administrators. There are several steps that must be completed including establishing the physical connections and protocols. Similarly, this tutorial explores the requirements to connect client systems outside the local network. Again, establishing the physical connections and configuring protocols is required.

Early network operating systems provided just the basics in terms of network services, such as file and printer sharing. Today's network operating systems offer a far broader range of network services; some of these services are used in almost every network environment, and others are used in only a few.

Despite the complexity of operating systems, the basic function and purpose of a network operating system is straightforward: to provide services to the network. The following are some of the most common of these services:

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Authentication services
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File and print services
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Web server services
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Firewall and proxy services
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Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) services

These are just a few of a large number of services that a network operating system can provide.

The following sections discuss the major operating systems currently in use and how each of them deals with basic services such as authentication, security, and file and print services.