Network Operating Systems

A. NOS - A Definition The term "NOS" stands for network operating system. A NOS contains protocol stacks as well as device drivers for network hardware... .

B. Windows Networking Essential networking topics for the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems such as dial-up networking, remote access, and connection sharing.

C. Linux Networking Samba, firewall security, Web serving, and related features of the open-source Linux operating system.

D. Macintosh Networking Networking capabilities of Macintosh computers including connectivity in Windows environments.

E. NetWare Networking Novell NetWare has been used for basic file/print serving for many years; NetWare today also includes Web-based networking capabilities.

F. OS/2 Networking The OS/2 network operating system supports TCP/IP, peer-to-peer, firewalling, and other conventional LAN technologies.

G. Special-Purpose Operating Systems These operating systems appeal to specialized or "niche" audiences. Some servers and routers use these operating systems, for example.

H. Which NOS is Right for You? Which network operating system is the "best" one? This article provides the resource information you need to make an informed decision, including links to discussions amongst the experts on our message board.

I. Crash - A Definition The term "crash" refers to a critical failure in a network device. Traditionally, network operating systems have been a primary source of crashes.

J. More About Basic Networking Our full list of basic computer networking resources including beginners' guides, glossary pages, and online quizzes.

Windows Networkinghttp://compnetworking.about.com/cs/windowsnetworkin1/ht/client4msnet.htm

Windows Networking - Client for Microsoft Networks

The Client for Microsoft Networks is an essential networking software component for the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. A Windows computer must run the Client for Microsoft Networks to remotely access files, printers and other shared network resources. These step-by-step instructions explain how to verify the client is present and, if not, how to install it.

Here's How:

1. Navigate to the Windows Control Panel.

2. If the computer runs Windows 2000, Windows XP or newer, locate and right click "My Network Places" in the Start Menu and choose Properties from the menu that appears. A new window titled "Network Connections" opens. In this window, open the "Local Area Connection" item.

3. If the computer runs any older version of Windows, like Windows 95 or Windows 98, locate and right-click on Network Neighborhood, then choose "Properties" from the menu that appears. Alternatively, navigate to Control Panel and open the "Network" item.

4. If the computer runs Windows 2000, Windows XP or newer, view the General tab and verify the checkbox next to Client for Microsoft Windows is unchecked. This confirms the component has not already been installed. If the network is currently active, you may not see any checkboxes in the window. In this case, click the "Properties" button one more time to reach the full General tab.

5. If the computer runs any older version of Windows, view the Configuration tab and verify the Client for Microsoft Windows does not appear in this list. This confirms the component has not already been installed.

6. If the computer runs Windows 2000, Windows XP or newer, first click the checkbox next to Client for Microsoft Windows, then click the "Install..." button to begin the process of installing this component.

7. If the computer runs any older version of Windows, simply click the "Add..." to begin the process of installing Client for Microsoft Windows.

8. For all versions of Windows, select "Client" as the type of component from the list in the new window that appears. Click the "Add..." button to continue.

9. For all versions of Windows, next choose "Microsoft" from the list of manufacturers shown on the left of the active window. Then, choose "Client for Microsoft Windows" from the list of Network Clients on the right side of the window. Click the "OK" button to continue.

10. Complete the installation by clicking the "OK" button to close the window, then proceed to reboot the computer. After the computer has restarted, Client for Microsoft Windows will be installed.

Windows Networking - Naming Computers

When networking Windows computers, each computer name must be set properly. Computers having names that violate Windows guidelines may fail to network with their peers for various technical reasons. Follow these rules to ensure your computers are named appropriately.

When setting up a peer-to-peer Windows network, each computer name must be configured properly. Computers having names that violate Windows guidelines may, for various technical reasons, fail to network with their peers on the LAN. Ensure your computers are named appropriately according to the following rules:

No two computers can possess the same computer name. Ensure all computer names are unique.

Ensure each computer name is no longer than 15 characters.

Ensure no computer name contains spaces. Windows ME and earlier versions of Windows do not recognize computers having space characters in their name.

Avoid special characters in computer names. Whenever possible, do not use any of these characters when naming Windows computers: / \ * , . " @

Avoid using lower-case letters in a computer name whenever possible. On Windows Vista, the case of letters (upper or lower) is ignored. Older versions of Microsoft Windows, however, treat computer names as case sensitive. Entering computer names in all upper case is recommended to avoid possible name conflicts that would prevent Windows computers from identifying each other.

To set or change a computer name on Windows XP, right-click on My Computer or open the System icon in Control Panel, then choose the Computer Name tab.

To set or change a computer name on Windows 2000, open the System icon in Control Panel and choose the Network Identification tab, then click the Properties button.

On older versions of Windows, open the Network icon in Control Panel and choose the Identification tab.

Windows Networking - Naming Workgroups and Domains

When networking Windows computers, each computer belongs either to a workgroup or a domain. Choosing proper workgroup and/or domain names is essential to avoiding technical problems in networking Windows computers.

Each Windows computer belongs either to a workgroup or a domain. Home networks and other small LANs utilize workgroups, whereas larger business networks operate with domains. Choosing proper workgroup and/or domain names is essential to avoiding technical problems in networking Windows computers. Ensure your workgroups and/or domains are named appropriately according to the following rules.

Ensure each workgroup and domain name is no longer than 15 characters.

Ensure no workgroup or domain name contains spaces. Windows ME and earlier versions of Windows do not support workgroups or domains with spaces in their name.

Whenever possible, ensure all computers on the LAN use the same workgroup/domain name. Using common workgroups/domains makes it easier to browse the network and avoids some security complications when sharing files. Note that the default workgroup name in Windows XP is "MSHOME" but in older versions of Windows is "WORKGROUP".

Ensure the name of the workgroup/domain is different from the name of any computer on that network.

Avoid special characters in workgroup and domain names. Whenever possible, do not use any of the characters when naming Windows workgroups and domains: / \ * , . " @

For simplicity, avoid using lower-case letters in workgroup or domain names.

The workgroup name need not match the network name (SSID) on a Wi-Fi LAN.

To set or change workgroup/domain names in Windows XP, right-click on My Computer or open the System icon in Control Panel, then choose the Computer Name tab and finally, click the Change... button to access the workgroup/domain name fields.

To set or change workgroup/domain names in Windows 2000, open the System icon in Control Panel and choose the Network Identification tab, then click the Properties button.

To set or change workgroup/domain names in older versions of Windows, open the Network icon in Control Panel and choose the Identification tab.

My Network Places - Networked Windows ResourcesMy Network Places is the utility for browsing network resources in Microsoft Windows ME, Windows 2000 and newer Windows operating systems. My Network Places allows you to add, search and access both local and remote network resources.

How to Fix "Network Cable Unplugged" Errors in WindowsIf your wired or wireless network is not functioning properly, you may see "A Network Cable Is Unplugged" messages appear repeatedly on the Windows desktop. Learn more about this problem and how to stop these annoying messages from occuring.

Try the following tips to resolve your problem:

Disable the Ethernet network adapter if you are not using it. This applies, for example, when running a WiFi home network with computers that have built-in Ethernet adapters. To disable the adapter, double-click the small Network Cable Unplugged error window and choose the Disable option.

Check both ends of the Ethernet cable connected to the adapter to ensure they are not loose.

Replace the Ethernet cable with a different one to verify the cable is not damaged.

Update the network adapter driver software from the manufacturer's Web site.

Change the Link Speed and Duplex settings (using Device Manager) to use "100 Mbps Full Duplex" or "10 Mbps Full Duplex" instead of Auto Detect.

Replace the Ethernet network adapter if it is a removable PCI or PCMCIA card. First remove and re-insert the existing adapter hardware to verify the card is connected properly. If necessary, also replace it with a different card.

The device your Ethernet adapter is connected to, such as a broadband modem or network router may be malfunctioning. Troubleshoot these devices as needed.

How to Fix "Duplicate Name Exists" Errors in WindowsAfter booting a Microsoft Windows computer, you may see an error message stating a duplicate name exists on the network.

"Duplicate name exists" errors prevent a Windows computer from joining the network. The computer will start up and function in an offline mode only. To resolve this error, simply change the name of the computer to one that is not used by other local computers (or Windows workgroups), then reboot.

How To Fix "Limited Or No Connectivity" Errors in WindowsWhen attempting to set up or make network connections on a Windows computer, you may encounter a Limited Or No Connectivity error message. Follow these steps to resolve this error condition.

Introduction to Windows FirewallWindows Firewall is a free network firewall software application for Windows XP, introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2. Older version of Windows XP contained a different software firewall called Internet Connection Firewall (ICF).

Windows Firewall provides one-way network protection only. It blocks incoming traffic as configured, but it will not block any outgoing traffic. This behavior is by design, as Microsoft and various security experts recommend controlling outgoing traffic through a separate network device such as the broadband router. On the other hand, alternative software firewall products on the market today usually support traffic blocking in either direction. Modern trojans and spyware applications can easily disable these outbound firewall traffic blocks, however. Overall, the lack of outbound traffic blocking in Windows Firewall detracts very little from its power.

WorkgroupIn computer networking, a workgroup is a collection of computers on a local area network (LAN) that share common resources and responsibilities. The Microsoft Windows family of operating systems supports assigning of personal computers to named workgroups.

Workgroups are designed for small LANs in homes, schools, and small businesses. A Windows Workgroup, for example, functions best with 15 or fewer computers. As the number of computers in a workgroup grows, workgroup LANs eventually become too difficult to administer and should be replaced with alternative solutions like domains or other client/server approaches.

Windows Host Files

A hosts file is a list of computer names and their associated IP addresses. Hosts files are used by Microsoft Windows and other network operating systems as an optional means to redirect TCP/IP traffic in special circumstances. These files are not required to use ordinary network and Internet applications.

WINS - Windows Internet Naming Service

The Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) supports name resolution, the automated conversion of computer names to network addresses, for Windows networks. Specifically, WINS converts NetBIOS names to IP addresses on a LAN or WAN.

Like DNS, the Windows Internet Naming Service employs a distributed client/server system to maintain the mapping of computer names to addresses. Windows clients can be configured to use primary and secondary WINS servers that dynamically update name/address pairings as computers join and leave the network. The dynamic behavior of WINS means that it also supports networks using DHCP.

UNC - Universal Naming ConventionMicrosoft Windows uses the UNC notation standard to identify server, share and file names.

UNC names identify network resources using a specific notation. UNC names consist of three parts - a server name, a share name, and an optional file path. These three elements are combined using backslashes as follows:

\\server\share\file_path

NetBIOS - Network Basic Input/Output SystemNetBIOS is a protocol for computer communication services on local networks used by Microsoft Windows.

APIPA - Automatic Private IP Addressing APIPA allows DHCP clients to obtain addresses even in cases when the DHCP server cannot provide one.

Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS)Microsoft IIS implements Web server functionality that integrates with other Microsoft server networking technologies.

Windows XP

Windows 2000 Server

Linux Networking - Network Linux Computers

The Linux computer operating system and Linux networking continues to gain in mainstream popularity with businesses and families. Explore Linux network technology and tools.

Samba for Linux NetworkingSamba supports sharing of files and printers across different operating systems using the Session Message Block (SMB) protocol. Many Linux environments use Samba to share resources with Windows.

Windows, Mac and Linux PCs on the Same NetworkEnable the machines on your cross-platform network to access and share the same files and resources.

Windows: Sharing files and printers on Windows XP systems is disabled by default in Service Pack 2, but enabling this feature is pretty easy. Right-click My Network Places, choose Properties, right-click the network connection through which you want to share files, select Properties again, check File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and click OK (see FIGURE 1

Macintosh: To share your Mac's files and printers with other computers, launch Sharing in System Preferences, select Services, enter a descriptive name for the computer in the Computer Name field, and check Windows Sharing. To share your Mac's Public folders only with other Macintosh computers, check Personal File Sharing instead. If you'd like to specify the printers you want to share, open Print & Fax in System Preferences, check Share these printers with other computers, and select the appropriate printers.

Linux: To share files and printers in SuSE 9.3 with KDE 3.4, use the YAST configuration utility. Simply open the program, enter the root password when prompted, select Network Services in the left pane, and click Samba Server. After YAST detects your configuration, enable or disable your preferred shared resources (such as printers and home directories), click the Start Up tab, select On--Start Service when Booting, and click Finish. The next time you boot Linux, your file and printer shares will become available to other computers on the network.

IPCopIPCop is a smal Linux operating system distribution designed to be installed on a network firewall.

Linux Wireless Networking OverviewThis tutorial covers Linux wireless local area networking technologies including Bluetooth, GPRS, GSM, and IrDA.