v      Networksoftwareis the information, data or programming used to make it possible for computers to communicate or connect to one another.

v      Network software is used to efficiently share information among computers. It encloses the information to be sent in a “package” that contains a “header” and a “trailer”. The header and trailer contain information for the receiving computer, such as the address of that computer and how the information package is coded.

v      Information is transferred between computers as either electrical signal in electric wires, as light signals in fiber-optic cables, or as electromagnetic waves through space.

v      There are two main types of software utilized in the networking environment – operating systems and applications.

System Network Software

v      A network operating system (or also named NOS) is System software that controls a networkand its message(e.g. packet) traffic and queues, controls access by multiple users to network resources such as files, and provides for certain administrative functions, including security.

v      A network operating system is most frequently used with local area networks and wide area networks, but could also have application to larger network systems.

v      The upper 5 layers of the OSI Reference Model provide the foundation upon which many network operating systems are based.

v      Network Operating System (NOS) is an operating system that includes special functions for connecting computers and devices into a local-area network (LAN) or Inter-networking. A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating system that is designed primarily to support workstation, personal computer, and, in some instances, older terminalthat are connected on a local area network (LAN). A network operating system provides printer sharing, common file system and database sharing, application sharing, and the ability to manage a network name directory, security, and other housekeeping aspects of a network.

v      A NOS is a network operating system. A network operating system implements protocol stacks as well as device drivers for networking hardware. Some network operating systems, like Windows 98 Second Edition, also add custom networking features like Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

v      Network operating systems have existed for more than thirty years. The UNIX® operating system was designed from the beginning to support networking. In its early forms, Windows did not support networking, so Novell NetWare became the first popular network operating system for the personal computer (Windows 95 and Windows for Workgroups were Microsoft’s first network operating system products). Today, nearly any consumer operating system qualifies as a NOS due to the popularity of the Internet and the obvious need to support Internet Protocol (IP) networking at a minimum.

v      Some popular NOSs for DOS and Windows systems include Novell NetWare, Windows NT, 2000, 2003, 2008 Server, Sun Solaris and IBM OS/2. The Cisco IOS (Internet Operating System) is also a network operating system with a focus on the Internetworking capabilities of network devices.

v      Artisoft’s LANtastic, Banyan VINES, Novell’s NetWare, and Microsoft’s LAN Manager are examples of network operating systems. In addition, some multi-purpose operating systems, such as Windows NTand Digital’s OpenVMScome with capabilities that enable them to be described as a network operating system.

 Application Network Software

v      Application network software is those which are used to gain the power of networking.

v      Applications for the LAN vary incredibly in their use and design. Applications that make use of certain network features (such as network drive letters) are considered to be “LAN-Aware”. Some applications may be LAN-aware but limited in their functionality when in the network environment.

v      Today many application software and utilities are available to access various networking facilities.

v      Network monitoring software.

v      Network Resources sharing software.

v      And many more