Example of Network Operating System

Last Updated on 4 months by Touhid

A network operating system or NOS is a type of operating system that manages computer network resources such as data, and applications and ensures security. The most common usable examples of network operating systems are Microsoft Windows Server, UNIX, Linux, and Mac OS X. In this post, we’ll put some example of network operating system and types of network operating systems.

What is a Network Operating System?

A network operating system is a computer operating system (OS) that’s designed to create a network connection and share devices (such as printers, and files) within a computer network. The network operating system can handle simultaneously multiple client requests.

The network operating system is a powerful computer, which comprises software and network protocols to communicate with other computers over a network. It’ll give you the option to remote access to another computer and it can share resources and storage within the networked computers. Examples of network operating systems are Microsoft Windows Server, UNIX, Linux, and Mac OS X, which are used to run the server programs and applications.

Simply put, a network operating system is designed for connecting multiple computers and sharing resources through a local area network (LAN).

Example of Network Operating System

The most common example of network operating system are Microsoft Windows Server, UNIX, Linux, and Mac OS X.  Some other network operating systems are Novell NetWare, Sun Solaris, AppleShare, and Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), etc.

Microsoft Windows Server

Microsoft Windows Server is an example of a network operating system which has been designed by Microsoft. Windows servers are extremely powerful and high-configuration computers that are used for enterprise-level management, data storage, applications hosting, and networking. Microsoft Windows Server ensures the availability, stability, and security of a system.

The first version of Windows Server edition was Windows Server 2003. Here, I’ve listed the full releases of Windows Server as follows:

• Windows Server 2003 (April 2003)
• Windows Server 2003 R2 (December 2005)
• Windows Server 2008 (February 2008)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 (October 2009)
• Windows Server 2012 (September 2012)
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (October 2013)
• Windows Server 2016 (September 2016)
• Windows Server 2019 (October 2018)
• Windows Server 2022 (August 2021)

Learn more about Microsoft Windows Server Operating System.

UNIX Operating System

This is another example of a network operating system that was first developed by AT&T Corporation’s Bell Laboratories in the late 1960s. The UNIX operating system is simple, multi-tasking, multi-user, portable, and stable that is used for web servers, laptops, and desktop computers.

The UNIX operating system is mainly based on three parts such as the kernel, the shell, and the programs. There are different versions of the UNIX operating system SunOS, Solaris, SCO UNIX, AIX, HP/UX, ULTRIX, etc.

Learn more about the UNIX Operating System.

Linux Operating System

Linux is one of the most popular and open-source operating systems that is used in mobile phones, routers, supercomputers, mainframe computers, and server applications. The Linux Operating System is free and its source code is available to use.

Linux is used for all types of server applications such as web servers, database servers, DNS servers, antivirus servers, file servers, email servers, and shared servers. The important features of the Linux operating system are portable, open source, multi-user, multi-programming, and it provides more security than other operating systems.

There are different distributions of Linux operating systems such as Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, and Kali Linux Distribution.

Learn more about the Linux Operating System.

Types of Network Operating System

There are two types of network operating systems, which are as follows:

• Peer-to-Peer Network Operating System
• Client-Server Network Operating System

Peer-to-Peer NOS

A peer-to-peer network Operating System is a network system that connects multiple computers or nodes and can share data.

Each node of a peer-to-peer network has the same functional and operational capability. All nodes have their individual memory space to store data and resources to share with other nodes.

In a peer-to-peer network Operating System, all nodes or workstations are directly connected using a hub or switch. In this networking system, there is no need for a separate server to store and share data or files with others.

A peer-to-peer network is used in home networks or small businesses for file sharing, direct messaging and for collaboration. The peer-to-peer network operating system examples are Torrent, Skype, Bitcoin, Limewire, and Kazaa, etc.

Client-Server NOS

A client-server network Operating System is a network system that connects multiple client computers or workstations to a single server computer. The Networking Operating System is installed on the server computer and the client-server network model is controlled centrally.

In this architecture, the server computer is responsible for storing and sharing resources with the client computer. A client will request the server computer to access the resources and the server computer will respond to the request securely.

Here, the server is a high-configuration computer that can store large amounts of data and can handle multiple client requests simultaneously.

A client-server network Operating System is used to host web application software and websites, where an application or website is hosted on a server and a client accesses the application through a network. Client-server network operating system examples include web server, file server, print server, DNS server, database server, and mail server.

Functionalities of Network Operating System

A network operating system is a system that is designed for managing network resources, creating network connections, and sharing files among multiple computers within the network.

The major functionalities of a Network Operating System are as follows:

• Storage of the data on the system and controlling the file access.
• Sharing of resources such as files, applications, and printers.
• Improved performance and ensure system security.
• Protect data from cyber threats such as viruses and malware.
• Provides remote access to servers and applications.
• Manage the operations between the main memory and the hard disk.
• Creating a new user, and user group and managing the accounts on the network.
• Receive the client’s request and process the request.
• Monitor the system and troubleshoot the network.
• Managing the resources on the network.
• Ensure system security by blocking unauthorized access.

Services of Network Operating System

There are different services provided by a network operating system. The most common services are listed as follows:

• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) services.
• DNS (Domain Name System) services.
• Email services.
• Web services.
• File and print services.
• Peripheral Sharing Service.
• Communication Service.

Conclusion

A network operating system is a type of operating system that manages computer network resources such as data, and applications, and ensures data security. In this post, we’ve given basic ideas about different network operating systems such as Microsoft Windows Server, UNIX, Linux, and Mac OS X. Hope the post “Example of network operating system” will be helpful for you.