A Network Operating System (NOS) refers to an operating system developed to enable connection between computers, local area networks, and devices within a network. NOS support sharing of databases, workstations, files, and access to a printer from different devices (Beal, 2018). Examples of network operating systems include: UNIX, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows Server, and Novell Netware.
Microsoft Windows Operating System is the standard graphical user interface (GUI) developed and distributed by Microsoft Corporation in 1985 and has been used to run personal computers (PCs). The version of windows released in 1985 was in the form of an extension of MS-DOS. The users of DOS were able to use the desktop as a means of accessing the contents of a computer such as folders and files. Since its introduction, Microsoft Windows Operating System has been dominant in the PC market with a 90% share. The greatest competition to Microsoft Windows was experienced when Android operating system was introduced in 2014. However, Microsoft Operating system and Android operating systems target different market platforms. Other versions of Microsoft Operating System had improved functional capabilities. Examples of the advanced versions include: Windows File Manager, Print Manager program, and Windows packages ( Zaw & Soe, 2008) . In 1990, Windows 3 was released by Microsoft and offered better icons and graphics that could be represented in 16 different colors. This version of Windows provided a standard ‘look and feel’. Other features that were introduced included; File Manager, games such as Hearts, Minesweeper, and Solitaire.
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Windows 95 was released in 1995 and provided built-in internet accessibility such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. Windows XP is a version of Microsoft Operating system released in 2001 that integrated Windows packages in a single banner and provided more functions such as multimedia applications and other features that were suitable and relevant to consumers. Windows 95 kernel was abandoned by Windows XP in order to create a code base that provided a more relevant interface that improved memory management ( Zaw & Soe, 2008) . The version of Windows released in 2006 was Windows Vista that had more interesting visual features but had a slow Operating System (OS). The version was 32-bit and took a significant part of RAM memory that prevented a proper operation of the OS. Windows 7 was introduced in 2009 and operated using the capabilities of Windows Vista but was more stable. It had a faster boot time and incorporated a new user-interface and the addition of Internet Explorer 8. The last version of Microsoft Windows is Windows 10 that has the responsive design feature that enables adaptation of the interface to what the user works with such as a touchscreen or a keyboard and has features such as onscreen back button.
Workstation
A client-server network configuration is composed of machines that are connected to a server in a particular network. A local area network may be found in a building in which a business operates or it may cover a number of buildings or a wider area such as a library, a hospital, or a university campus (Beal, 2018). An example of a client-server network configuration is illustrated in the figure below.
Figure 1. A configuration of Client-Server LAN
In the client-server network in Figure 1, the network is organized in such a way that it is switched at the hub and can be accessed by users in their workstations as well as those who use portable devices such as laptops ( Zaw & Soe, 2008) . Each work station is fitted with Ethernet that enables connectivity to the hub without physical connectivity.
References
Beal, V., (2018). NOS-Network Operating System. Webopedia. [Online]. Available at: https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/N/network_operating_system_NOS.html . Accessed on December 28, 2018.
Zaw, M. M. P. P., & Soe, S. M. M. (2008). Design and implementation of client server network management system for ethernet lan. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology , 48 .
