Network operating systems

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. Network operating systems provide several services to the client systems on the network. The following are some of the most common of these services:

• Authentication services
• File and print services
• Web server services
• Firewall and proxy services
• 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. When you take the time to list all the aspects of network operating systems, you gain an appreciation for their complexity and the many functions they are designed to perform.

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