Network Operating Systems

A network operating system (NOS) acts as a server and provides services, data, files, application, access, authentication, and so on to other PCs on a network. Even “desktop” operating systems can provide network services such as sharing files or a printer. A true NOS is designed to maximize those kinds of services instead of supporting local applications like Word, PowerPoint, and so on. NOSs have applications such as email servers, web servers, authentication, printing, and naming services. All these are dedicated resources to other network devices. Popular NOSs are Linux Server, OS X Server, the many Windows Servers, and Novell. Linux traditionally makes up a large portion of server-side operating systems.