Network Operating System (NOS)

Network Operating System is a an operating system that are specially designed to support workstations, personal computers and in some cases older terminals or devices that are connected on a Local Area Network (LAN).

Examples of Network Operating Systems

• Artisoft's LANtastic
• Banyan VINES
• Novell's NetWare
• Microsoft's LAN Manager

Purpose of Network Operating System

• Printer Sharing
• File and Database Sharing
• Application Sharing
• Security of the network

Network Operating System Examples:

1. JUNOS is used in routers and switches which are used in Juniper Networks
2. CISCO Internetwork Operating System (IOS) used on CISCO networking devices
3. IPOS is used in routers which are from Ericsson
4. TiMOS is used in routers which are from Alcatel-Lucent
5. Versatile Routing Platform (VRP) is used in routers which are from Huawei
6. RouterOS is software which turns a PC or MikroTik hardware into a dedicated router
7. ZyNOS is used in network devices which are made by ZyXEL
8. Extensible Operating System are used in switches which are from Arista
9. EXOS (ExtremeXOS) is used in network devices which are made by Extreme Networks
10. Embedded Linux in distributions like Openwrt and DD-WRT which are mostly used to run on low-cost platforms such as the Linksys WRT54G devices

Open Source Network Operating System Examples:

1. Cumulus Linux distribution is used for the full TCP/IP stacks of Linux
2. DNOS (Dell Network Operating System) is the new name of the operating system running on switches which are from Dell Networking and it will run atop NetBSD
3. Open Network Operating System (ONOS)
4.  PicOS, Linux-based OpenFlow-supporting switching operating system which are made by Pica8
5. VyOS is an open source fork of the Vyatta routing package
6. OpenSwitch Linux Network Operating System which is from Hewlett-Packard.

Major examples of network operating systems are

1. Peer-to-Peer
2. Client-Server

Peer-to-Peer

In these networks operating systems allows users to share the files and resources on their computer with other and also access the shared resources by others.

These systems are not based with having file server or centralized source of management. These networks set all the computers equal connected with them.

Advantages of Peer-to-Peer Network

1. Peer-to-Peer Network is easy to setup
2. Peer-to-Peer Network is less expensive network
3. Peer-to-Peer Network does not required any dedicated server

Disadvantages of Peer-to-Peer Network

1. Peer-to-Peer Network does not have centralized administration
2. In Peer-to-Peer Network all devices act as client and server which slow down it's performance
3. Peer-to-Peer Network is less complex and inexpensive until no dedicated is required

Client-Server

In these networks operating systems are installed on the dedicated servers which allows the users to share their resources with each other. The main advantage of this architecture is that it has main centralized storage and administrative system. It is more secure than Peer-to-Peer networks.

Advantages of Client-Server Network

1. Client-Server network have centralized administration
2. Client-Server has proper management because all the data is stored at single location
3. Client-Server also provides the facility of backup
4. Client-Server network is easy to upgrade because in this server is needed to upgrade only

Disadvantages of Client-Server Network

1. Congestion occurs when to many requests received for clients
2. Expensive due to servers
3. To maintain Client-Server network Professional IT experts are required