Summary

122 IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion GuideDescribe Network Operating SystemsA network OS has the following characteristics:■■■■Supports multiple usersRuns multiuser applicationsIs robust and redundantProvides increased security compared to desktop operating systemsThe most commonly used network operating systems are as follows:■■■■Microsoft Windows: Network operating systems offered by Microsoft are Windows2000 Server and Windows Server 2003. Windows Server operating systems use a centraldatabase called Active Directory to manage network resources.Novell NetWare: Novell NetWare was the first OS to meet network OS requirementsand enjoy widespread deployment in PC-based LANs back in the 1980s.Linux: Linux operating systems include Red Hat, Caldera, SuSE, Debian, andSlackware.UNIX: Various corporations offered proprietary operating systems based on UNIX.Worksheet 5.2.2: NOS Certifications and JobsIn this activity, you will use the Internet, a newspaper, or magazines to gather informationabout network operating system certifications and jobs that require these certifications.Refer to the worksheet in IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Labs and Study Guide,Third Edition (ISBN 1-58713-198-6). You can complete this worksheet now or wait to doso until the end of the chapter.Determine Operating System Based onCustomer NeedsTo select the proper operating system to meet the requirements of your customer, you needto understand how the customer wants to use the computer. The operating system that yourecommend should be compatible with any applications that will be used and should supportall hardware that is installed in the computer. If the computer will be attached to a network,the new operating system should also be compatible with other operating systems onthe network.