What Is A Network Operating System?

A network operating system can be abbreviated as NOS. NOS is a piece of software that controls a network and its message for example; packet, traffic and queues, controls access by multiple users to the different network resources like files. It also provides for certain administrative functions, including the security. A NOS is not equivalent to the networking tools that are provided by some existing operating systems like Windows XP etc. An NOS is an operating system that has been particularly written to keep the networks running at optimal performance.


A network operating system is most frequently and efficiently used with the local area networks and the wide area networks, but could also have application to larger network systems. The upper five layers of the OSI Reference Model provide the foundation upon which many network operating systems are based. NOS provides the basic operating system features like support for processors, protocols, automatic hardware detection etc. it provides some of the security features such as authentication, authorization, login restrictions and access control. Provision of the directory services is one of its major facilities. NOS also provide the file, print, web services, and back-up and the replication services. It supports internetworking such as routing and WAN ports.